City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. It's 6 PM. I'm going to call the city council meeting to order. Would you please join me in the pledge of allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All council members are now present. Thank you very much. We're going to launch into some announcements and committee reports. Uh first of all, we just want to recognize that 104 years ago on April 26, yesterday, uh the first ferry from Anacortis to Sydney set sail and then at some point Washington state fairies picked it up. Uh it set sail almost continuously for nearly 100 years until the pandemic when crossber traffic was closed and it has not been back yet. We highlight this only for the purpose of keeping it fresh in everybody's minds. There is not really any expectation that it will return prior to washd's expectation of 2030. Uh but you can learn more about this issue at anacordsw.gov/2044 and read all about it. Please keep the Sydney Ferry in your thoughts. Uh the Fourth of July parade this year will be run a little bit differently than usual. First of all, registration is required this year. Uh all floats, all marching groups. Hopefully, we can get a marching band. And candy may not be thrown from vehicles, which really is not new, but we will be doing a little bit more enforcement this year to try to get people to comply. Parade participants may only distribute candy from the bike lane at the far edge of the roadway. So if you want more information or you want to sign up uh and register to be one of those floats, anacordiswah.gov/4th spelled out fo r. The senior activity center has a couple of notable events coming up. You can learn about all of them at the senior cent's website at anacortiswah.gov556. But on April 29th, there's a hearing loss and you program. That's a free event. And then there's a Mother's Day lunchon uh Thursday, May 7th, and registration is required for that one. And there's a $5 to7 fee.

Uh Parks and Wreck, kids fishing day at Hart Lake is May 30th. Uh and then Bark in the Park is coming up on June 13th. Check out that event and all of their events at anacordiswah.gov/490. The library has a number of notable events coming up. First of all, on the 1st is the 4th annual jazz walk, and the library will be be participating and uh helping with that. On May 6th is library trivia night. On May 8th, children's book week story time with Cammy Bratton. May 20th, there's an after hours book fair, and that is age 18 and up. And then May 25 through 30, there is a a programming break. That's the week of Memorial Day. So, uh no children's programming that week. Andwah.gov/ / library for more information. Guas Ferry will be out of service for maintenance May 4th through 17th. Passenger only service will be provided. Scadget County is uh coordinating all that. Our parking rules in Anacortis are not modified or suspended during this time. Uh and please note that only parallel parking is allowed on sixth and seventh streets. That's the default form of parking in Anacortis unless otherwise marked. There's more information including a recitation of some of the common parking rules at anacortiswah.gov. /2073 and finally committee reports council the library and museum committee I understand meant who has that report

mayor Walters Miss Hunt

so uh Mr. Courier and I met with museum director Brett Lungsford at the WT Preston on April 23rd and Mr. McDougall joined us on teams. So, we were a merry band. Uh, we were perfectly positioned there on the Preston to watch the contractor setting pavers in the new maritime plaza, which looked fantastic. That is an amazing, inviting waterfront space. Uh, Mr. Lensford shared the conceptual plans to add a deck or performance stage across the entire south wall of the Maritime Heritage Center with full width stairs down to the plaza which would create a wonderful connection to entice visitors between the waterfront and downtown. We discussed a number of possible funding mechanisms uh that could be combined to achieve that modest project in the very near term including some remaining contract funds, some possible ELTAC funding, possible contributions from local arts organizations and private donors all sign up. Uh and food trucks might be an option on non-farmmers market days in that wonderful plaza. We're looking forward to that. Mr. Dr. Lensford reported that the museum visits are up significantly over prior year. He described some of the many collaborative efforts the museum even with drastically reduced staff is engaged in to further history tourism including a contract with the cruise lines that come into town with increasing frequency I think twice a week right now. So so the library has adjusted or the museum has adjusted its hours to be available and open for those visitors. Um he also described the collaborative work with the Samish and the Port of Anacortis to tell the story of Fidalgo Island through signage and presentations by all of those organizations. Mr. Lensford mentioned that the new storage and workshop building that's planned for immediately adjacent to the

Carnegie building there uh which is in this year's capital facilities plan and in the budget is coasting right now. Uh well, staff energy is focused on direct service to the museum's many visitors both in person and virtual. And we concluded with a tour of the Preston, which none of the three of we committee members had done before and very much enjoyed. Um I didn't realize that the Preston was actually still in service down on Lake Washington when I was a child there. So that's kind of scary history. Um, and I'll just mention that the view from the top of the Preston if you have visitors in town is unbeatable. So check it out.

Walters, Mr. Young.

Oh, thank you. Excellent presentation as always. One of the things that I was talking with some friends about this weekend which was interesting is um you know guests in town and they were talking about the self- tours of Anacortis that's done by the museum that's absolutely spectacular and that they really enjoy it because it tells stories of it. And I was also talking to someone that um a bit of a historian from uh Anacortis and they were also saying that um in an accord I'm I'mma word this carefully in earlier days of Anacortis there were um you know things like a brothel or two you know for the different type of people was here and that some of the buildings are still standing. So, you know, it might be fun to have that as part of the tour, too. A a whole different category you could select. That would be fun. But it's a lot more than just brothel. I thought I'd throw that out there, too.

Uh, note to the clerk, let's not put Mr. Young in charge of the tours. Uh, council members, uh, any other announcements? Yeah. Commentary? Yeah. Tour suggestions? Mayor Walters.

Miss Kia McGrath. Thank you. So, we had a Northstar housing task force meeting earlier today and just a couple things that I think is good for the public to hear and other council members. Um the Northstar did a countywide housing call to action this last year. So, we're as a task force um getting reports from each city about how that's going. We got a great report from Brad Johnson with Burlington um how they're dealing with um restricting uh dealing with restrictions on middle housing and getting rid of uh conditional use permits which we have done. Um also about parking requirements and some more flexibility with that. Um, and so it was just kind of nice to hear about how other cities are are working and Burlington has done a ton of work in the last 10 years to get multif family housing built um in areas where there is access to public transportation and whatnot. So that was exciting to kind of get get um an update from them and also be able to converse about what worked for them and what has not. uh there are is just was went out by the county for a request for proposals when it comes to workforce affordable housing. I don't have all the details uh but the application each project can ask for up to a million dollars and uh requirement is they will support projects that have tenants um up to 80% of the area median income and there appears to be about $3 million available in this pot. Uh so this is a 009 fund. So, if there's anyone out there who um might be interested in that, it's important to be aware of. Applications are due May 21st of this year. Uh the other thing is Anna Cortis Habitat for Humanity project uh is completed and there are two units still available. Uh they're twobedroom, one and a half bath.

So, if there's anyone out there that you know might be interested, we'd love to get those purchased. um current the target AMI is 70 to 80%. The they can go up to 100% AMI but then it uh negates the ability to qualify for down payment assistance. So if you you're kind of on the edge if there's people on the edge that you know of or yourself please reach out to uh Habitat for Humanity. And then the final thing is Northstar Symposium is May 21st. If you haven't signed up, still sign up on the wait list. Last year there was quite a bit of weight list, but most of those folks were able to actually attend. Um, it should be really interesting. We're going to do a morning housing session about with the Snowomish Housing Authority. It's be really data focused. So, that should be interesting. Uh, an afternoon housing uh session about three different projects across the county that have been built recently. And then there's gonna be two keynote speakers uh about behavioral health and the continuum of care. So May 21st, it's open to not just electeds but the public too. So if you're interested um please get on that list. It's through Northstar um county. So that's it.

Thank you council members. Any other announcements? No. All right. Thank you. Uh, next on our agenda is one appointment and it is associated with resolution 3214. I have appointed Tarn Ohana to the planning commission and that appointment requires your confirmation via approval of the resolution. Council or are you interested? Mayor Walters, Mr. Fantini, I move to approve your appointment of Mr. Tarn Ohana to the planning commission. Is that the right Yes. Second.

There's a motion and a second to approve resolution 3214 uh confirming the planning commission appointment of Tarn Ohana. Any discussion? Hearing no discussion, I'll move to a vote on the resolution. All those in favor of resolution 3214 say I. I.

All those opposed say no. The eyes have it. Resolution 3214 is approved. Thank you. Congratulations, Mr. Ohana. All right, that brings us to item five on the agenda, which is public comment. We have a couple of people signed up in advance. Uh, also immediately after the consent agenda, we have a public hearing on the CDBG plan. So, if you're signed up for that, I'm going to ask you to wait until the public hearing in just a couple minutes. Uh, otherwise, we'll proceed with the people that are on the list first. And the first is Dan Maul. Go ahead, proceed to the podium. Tell us your neighborhood. And thank you. Your name?

Uh Dan Maul. As some of you know, my wife has two small businesses in town and owns the building at 7-Eleven commercial.

Um I want to thank you each and every one of you sincerely for passing the ordinance to ban the crypto kiosks and cortis. Um your action is already having an impact. Kenowick passed a ban after we did ours or you did ours. um Richland and Pasco are going to follow and it's going to continue to roll. So, what stands out the most to me as I was involved in this process was how accessible you guys were. I I was just really impressed. You listened, asked thoughtful questions, and acted decisively. Um, in contrast to the gridlock and divisiveness and political theater and outside pressure that's so common at the federal level and the state level, this this was a joy. Um, your focus remained on what it should be and that was that's protecting the residents of Anacortis. So on behalf of those who have been and will continue to be targeted by these scammers, thank you. Your leadership will spare many of the people from financial losses and and the embarrassment, the shame that goes along with being tricked like this. And beyond Anacortis, this is get raising awareness around the country, around the state, around the country. So it all helps a lot. So, I'm extraordinarily proud that Anacortis is leading the way and I am most grateful and appreciative and thank you all. Thank you. Uh Trina, I'll ask you to wait for just a minute uh for the public hearing. Alan Bush.

My name is Alan Bush. Uh 6628 West Shore Drive, Anacortis, Gimis Island. We share a zip code, by the way. Uh when Scadgetic County Gimis Ferry goes out of service for maintenance in a week, uh the ripple effects are immediate. Island residents lose the ability to transport vehicles during maintenance and overnight parking demand will surge near the uh sixth and I terminal. The city response is to prohibit angle parking in the queuing lane, citing safety concerns. At that time, at the same time, Gimis residents who have no alternative access are forced to park overnight in front of neighborhood homes, creating tension that could have been avoided with more flexible parking policy. The city denies uh parking near the ferry terminal for safety. Yet parking exists across 14 city blocks just six blocks away surrounding the commercial avenue area with the same measurements of width I checked. This isn't a question of whether angle parking can be safe. It's already is throughout Anacortis. So the real question becomes why is a proven widely used parking solution suddenly unsafe only when Gimis Island residents need it the most. In a recent uh city of Anacortis press release that you featured in your opening comments. The city, state, and county can justify restoring a costly international ferry because it benefits tourism and regional economics and yet cannot justify protecting an essential local ferry that sustains a real community. One that actively contributes to Anacortis every single day with little or no cost to the

city. The Gimis Ferry isn't just transportation. It's access to school, healthcare, jobs, and daily life. treating it as anything else risk isolating a community that already is doing its part to support the region. Gimmis Island Ferry serving Gimis Island is met with a fair increase of up to 125% in the last three years of which the city of Anacortis has yet to weigh in. This affects your parking. We stop driving our cars and we park in your neighborhood. I I I really see a need there for you to weigh in. Um limited accommodations despite predictable impacts. In other words, you are willing to adapt and invest in Scadget or in Anacortis Sydney run for non-essential international route, but you are restricting restricting and burdening a fully essential and local one. If angle parking is safe enough for 14 blocks in Anacortis, it's a is it safe enough with proper management for temporary support ferry overflow. One idea would be to accommodate temporary outage with city and port off-site parking for those folks who cannot u come and go within that 72-hour period. So, is there an alternative?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bush. Anyone else for public comment at this time? Seeing none. Anybody online? No. All right. We'll then proceed to the consent agenda. Council.

Mayor Walters. M. McDougall. I move to approve consent agenda items as presented. Second motion and second to approve the consent agenda. There's no discussion allowed on the consent agenda. Nobody indicating anyone wants to pull anything from the consent agenda. We will go ahead and take a roll call vote. Mr. Franc. Mr. Fantini. Yes. Miss Hunt. Yes. Mr. Courier. Yes. Mr. Young. Yes. Miss Cleveland McGrath. Yes. Miss Molton? Yes. Mr. McDougall? Yes. Mayor, the eyes are seven, the nays are zero.

Sounds like the eyes have it, and the consent agenda is approved. Thank you. Our next item is a public hearing on the 2026 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan. Who wants to uh start us off? Miss Snder. Good evening, mayor. Good evening, members of the council. Nine weeks ago, I was here. Seven weeks ago, sorry. I was here. Could you Could you adjust your mic just a little closer? Thank you.

A little closer. Is that better? Perfect. Seven weeks ago, I came before council with our uh budget draft of how to spend the allocation for the 2026 uh annual action plan. And after that, six weeks ago, we went ahead and drafted the full plan in HUD language on their software. Um 3 weeks ago, we were allocated by HUD to receive $17,190 for the year 2026. That's down a little bit from the 108479 we had previously. Um, as it stands, it is the same plan that we had presented originally. We've gone out for a 30-day public comment period from March 16th to April 23rd. I did not receive any comments in my email from that request. At this point, if there's any questions for me that this is a good time or we'll go to the public hearing and we are hoping for council to take action on the plan this evening. Council, any questions for Miss Snyder?

Nope. All right, we'll open the public hearing. Anyone interested in providing comment, uh, get ready. But we'll start with, um, Trina Wary. Did I have that right? If not, please correct me. State your name and uh your neighborhood at the mic. Feel free to adjust the mic and you'll each have three minutes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And you did pronounce it correctly occasionally. I'm going to seed my time to Dustin Johnson, please. We don't seed time. That's unfortunately one of our or fortunately one of our rules, but well then I will echo what he will be saying. So, thank you. Thank you.

All right. Who's next? Dustin, go ahead.

Good evening, uh, mayor and council and audience members. I'm, uh, here representing the Anacortis Family Center, uh, to discuss the CDBG, um, particularly the allocation for public benefit. So, just some really brief history about public benefits. So, the public benefit is a portion of the total amount that the federal government allocates to our city. Um, and it is specifically to benefit homelessness and low-income citizens. Uh, and when it was first established, when Anacortis first started receiving it, it was under Mayor Maxwell. Uh, the Anacortis Family Center did not exist. Uh, and the money automatically went to community action. Um, under Mayor Gear's first year of her first term, uh, the Anacortis Family Center, the Community Action Agency, and the city of Anacortis got together and decided that the public benefit portion of CDBG should go to the organization that is most closely representing the community and and uh, community members that this particular pot of money is supporting. uh namely homeless folks and people of low income. The uh community action agency in the family center decided that we would not compete for this money. And I want to make sure that uh we are very clear. Sandy and I are up here in full agreement about um almost everything. Uh this particular pot of money um was then directed to the Anacortis family center because we were more local uh and more directly served the people that the money anticipated serving. Secondarily, um the Anaportis family center agreed that we would not compete with community action for the city of Mount Vernon's uh public benefit

money that the uh an the community action agency rightfully gets. Um so for the last 12 years, the Anortis family center has received this funding. It has been a consistent source of revenue um for uh money for all sorts of things around uh our case management um namely our support with getting our clients employed. Uh during our last hacks meeting, Sandy and I were able to come to an understanding one uh that community actions request for this funding uh is predicated on a request that would benefit a program out of Burlington that might support some Anacortis folks. Um what was not understood at the time is that the Anacortis family center supports and provides that same service to demographic dem demographics far and wide. there are no restrictions to that funding. Uh so our request tonight is that you amend uh the public benefit portion of the CDBJ CDBJ allocation. Uh we are very grateful for the other portion that would support uh the family cent's emergency shelter. Uh but hope that we go back to a normal course with regard to uh the public benefit. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Who's next? Sinny. All right. Um, Mayor Walters, city council members, it's good to be here. Um, I want to thank you for your first for your past and continuing support of the Anacortis Resource Center. Um, we have gone from 140 people served in 2024 um, up to 328 people served in 2025. So, we more than doubled our numbers in a year. Um, on the one hand, that's great news for us getting the information out to people. On the other hand, it's also just a key indication of the need there is in Anacortis across the board and the need there is for all of us as providers to be here and providing services um in in all sorts of ways, whether it's basic necessities, employment, and things like that. Um, I did want to talk today about the CDBG funding and clarify some of those issues. Um, I want to thank Dustin for the history as well, um, and providing some of that background on the CDBG funding, where it came from and how it has been allocated. And I do want to provide some clarity on some of the data, um, that we have on our employment programs as well as some spec specificities about how the funding, the CDBG funding would be used in Anacortis. Um, we applied to support our employment services for two reasons. One, we were not eligible for it to use it to support our resource center services. So we said, well, we're providing employment services out of our resource center and the CDBG funding this year is focused on economic development. So supporting our employment services is a logical connection. As with most of our programs, our employment programs operate with a gap. Um, but they're also in high demand and so we're growing. Um, and we want to continue to grow in Anacortis, too. Um when we began to colllo colllocate our employment services here in Anacortis which was

back in 2025 we jumped from serving 12 employment clients in Anacortis up to 20. Um so just being here a half a day a week made that huge change. Um and um we um so and also that number may not sound large. I know it doesn't but when you're talking about any education or employment services it's many hours a week. So those participants get services get support between two and 10 hours a week on top of any job that they're working in and placed in as well. Um services include um setting education and employment goals, job coaching, help with job search, resume building, interview coaching, helping clients advocate for themselves like for accommodations in their workplaces, helping with job placement, work pathways and life skills workshops, as well as our financial literacy and renters education workshops and volunteer financial mentoring as well. That's all wrapped together. Um, we expect to double our in-person time in Anacortis from a half a day to a full day. And we do expect to see some increase um in Anacortis residents, although I wouldn't expect another double. Going from 20 to 40 would be too much or I don't expect that would to happen. Um I do want to um highlight that um oops that we do serve so of those 20 people served in Anacortis. Um that's a quarter of our of the entire employment program. So we served about 80 people in 2025 20 of whom a quarter of whom were here in Anacortis.

Thank you. Are we at three minutes? Three minutes is up. All right. Thanks. That's Could you provide your name and organization for the record? Sorry, Sandy Finny. I'm an Anacortis resident and I'm the chief strategy officer of Community Action of Scadget County. Thank you. Thank you.

Who's next? My excuse me, my name is Walt Gutterbach. Uh 2005 29th place Santa Cortis. Uh, I want to echo what or support Dustin what Dustin said. Um, also I'm curious why we need intensive placement services when there's help wanted signs all over the city. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Anybody online? Nope. All right. If there's somebody else, I'll go ahead and close the public hearing. Uh, council, I do think that we have reached the durable conclusion that a non-substantial change in the plan does not require another comment period. Um, do you have any other questions for staff or uh, you can start discussion at this point,

Mayor Walters? Mr. Mantini. Yes. Um I so first of all thank you very much for the work that yourself and the department have put into this whole plan. I hear stories occasionally of how difficult um the HUD systems are how intensive and and all of that. So I can only imagine um what an undertaking it is every year. But I want you to know how much we appreciate the fact that it's done because the $108,000 or $107,000 that we're getting this year. Um it's it it's needed clearly. Um thank you Mr. Fantini.

Yeah. Uh I also one of the things that I look at in trying to decide where to put this money um for me it kind of comes with with two things. The first is how can we multiply these dollars? And what I mean by that is I think we have a great example of last year where we funded $5,000 and they turned it into $4 million uh for the able housing initiative. Yay. Well done. Um so I'm interested in putting those dollars into areas where they can be multiplied. And I said that a couple meetings ago and I did get um a handout from the family center that showed how uh of those public services dollars they're able to multiply every dollar and turn it into basically four with what they get through other either granting programs or or whatnot. So that for me is very um attractive uh because obviously anytime we can make these limited dollars stretch more I think that's a great great thing for us to do. The second thing that I I really wanted to look at was how is it going to directly impact our close community. And not that I um you know want to start a turf war with the other parts of Scadget Valley, but we very much or I feel like my responsibility is very much to the citizens in Anacortis and we have been sending money and me voting in favor of um to the county and other parts of the county like the $250,000 and the Star Center money. Um, and so I I feel like with hearing that that moving the program service dollars, there are probably going to more be centrally located and given to to even though there will be possibly Anacortis

residents served, but if we give that program services money to um community action, then it's mostly going to go to that Burlington um program. And so for me, um, I I apologize for saying this because again, I know how much work it is, but I'm just curious how other people up here feel. I thought we had kind of when this first came forward mentioned something about wanting to take a look at how those dollars were moving. And so I kind of thought we might get a little bit of an analysis tonight of, you know, hey, we looked at it and we're going to keep it this way or, you know, I didn't know I don't know if there was more conversation around that in the planning or hacks committee, but um I would be interested in having that conversation because I think it's worthwhile. I don't know how other people up here feel.

Mayor Walters. Mr. Courier.

Yeah. I also just wanted to say thank you. First of all, we've got some more being on the hacks committee, we've got some more in-depth um explanation as to how much work you put into this and through that department. So, that um that that's huge. And I think that making changes is difficult. Um I also feel that focusing on local when we can and and to TJ's point, um giving dollars that can be expanded locally is critical. Um I feel like their family center in particular has a really strong track record of doing that locally. Um it's not a t takeaway um towards community action but again it's this balance between regional support local focus and I think a strong argument can be made for both and I think you guys had to look at some stuff you're trying to distribute amongst many great organizations which I can truly appreciate is extremely difficult. Um, I would lean strongly towards um, amending what we have now and allocating that 15% towards um, the Anacortis Family Center emergency shelter support in addition to the HVAC support because again I feel like it's something that's gone along has done a lot in the past and I think um, focusing local on this is important to me. So I just throw that out there in discussion. Um, thank you.

Thank you. Um, just to clarify because there have been a couple of terms thrown around here. I think when we're talking about the dollars in question, the 15%, those are labeled public service dollars. Is that right? That is correct. We have a cap from HUD. We cannot spend more than 15% on public service funds. Okay. Just to make sure we're all talking about the same thing. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Yeah.

Um, you know, I hear my colleagues and, you know, they make such good points about um, how we in the interquarters need as much resources as we can. Everyone is under the pinch at this point. And also I want to tag on to the commending our team for being able to pull together and somehow out of the madness extrapolate where money can be best used at one time or another. Is there enough? No. Has there been enough? Never. And particularly now given the economic climate that we're in, not only as a nation, but as a county, as a city, and the various organizations. So I am a fan of both the Anacortis family center and community action. Where we will differ is that I believe that the need in Scadget County is far greater than the limited amount of money that we have and that I do believe that we're fortunate enough in Anacortis to have enough benefactors here within a concentrated region that has stepped up to the plate and been able to bring and donate dollars. Hence also part of I see some of the founders of the Anacquitis Family Center here. I know them. I respect them and I love them. And their challenge was to raise the money to start the family center and use those things for greater good. Right. I applaud that. On the other hand, community action, which I knew about, used to serve on their board, um, in my opinion, struggled just a bit to broadly get dollars to do some of the great work that they're doing. And so in my opinion, at least in my current view, the challenge for them is greater than it is the resources that we have right now. And with cuts that's been coming in

the federal government, those dollars, which is not a lot of money, can go a long way. We are part of Scadget County. And even though I'm aware that there were um discussions and ongoing discussions about how county commissioners or Scadget County um some say um disproportionately doesn't give Anticordis its fair share. I I I am one of those that believe that and I believe that that's an ongoing discussion that we will continue to have and hopefully find resources to make sure that we're getting that because I've heard many of the board including Justin himself sort of mentioning that and I like it because he's right. you know, they view us a little bit different, but in the end, when we're talking about a minimal amount of money here and that community action has been and continues to work ferociously within our community trying to augment the things that we don't have, this is not, in my opinion, a an amount of money we would quibble over. I think at the end of the day, Community Action uh is and has offered services here in Anacortis consistently. Even though the family center is expanding their services beautifully, we still don't have enough. And this minimum amount of money in my opinion is not something we should quibble over at the end of the day because the larger need are people that are floating from Anacortis to Mount Vernon to Burlington, it's a collective thing. There are people coming here for food too. And so, you know, I mean, when we talk about the senior center, when we talk about activities, when we talk about everything that makes Anacortis special, there are people coming from all around.

And in this case, I fervently believe that um the the community action in this case, it is a greater benefit. I think that we should keep those resources with them. Now, we can argue about any other and we can even present about any other resources. In my opinion, the Anacortis Family Center has a stellar reputation for being able to generate money, and I applaud that. We've donated ourselves from our family to one cause or another. But if we're talking only about this amount of money, I I find it a little bit. Oh, I just think that this is a tiny amount of money. The larger argument we're truly having whether we want to talk about it or not is how do we keep as much of the resources here in Anacortis so we can quibble about the versus the potato versus potato. But this is a minuscule amount of money. I believe community action needs this seed money just as much if not more than the Anacortis family center because in my opinion the Anacortis family center has a greater wonderful base of people here that it can call upon to make up this difference. I don't see community action having that and so I am um you know of the opinion and will continue to support the current standing as it goes forward.

Thank you Mr. Young. Mayor Walters, Miss Molton.

Thank you. So, we've we're talking a lot of course about Anacortis residents and I think that we might need a little bit of clarification um on how many Anacortis residents that Community Action serves at their current office here in town. We're talking a lot about the county um and that is a part of the conversation, but really we're talking about Ana Cortis. And I have some numbers here that that Sandy provided sort of um to to to fill in a little bit of that gap. In 2025, the Anacortis Resource Center served 328 Anacortis residents. And in the first quarter of this year, they've served 196. So if that keeps on track, they'll more than quadruple the amount of Anacortis residents served per year. She already addressed the employment services. Um last year 76 unduplicated Anacortis individuals were served with senior disabled services. Um and a senior food box that was 76 last year. It's 50 for the first quarter of this year. Um energy and utility assistance last year was 842. This first quarter is 640. So you see where this is going. clearly increasing every year. And one of the things that also um I think is useful to know is that the demographics are complimentary I would say to Anacortis Family Center who s serves a great number of people and a lot of women and families which is absolutely vital and um the community action served 29.3% age 60 and over also families with children but disabled people veterans etc. So, we're all pulling for the same

people on the same team doing great work. And I really feel like staff over the years has done an excellent job of balancing out these the needs of people as best they can between the Salvation Army, the housing authority, the family center, and community action all here in Anacortis. Um, for example, this year the family center is listed to get $45,000 for their HVAC. A lot of times that money goes to the housing authority for new roofs on their buildings. The housing authority applied this year. They're not getting anything.

Um, Salvation Army is getting 26,000 maybe for doors uh for uh accessibility doors,

which is great. My point being that and and that community action is is was slated to get 16,000. So I feel like that there is a lot of fairness here and I feel like there's room for all these organizations to help people in our town and doing different things and being complimentary and being accessible in different parts of town. So I am in favor of of keeping keeping the funding where it was initially presented to go. And also when I looked over at my last point being when I looked at the applications for economic development, the community action application was really clear on it being for economic development and the family center application was more general. Um, and they do so many good things for our community and for for citizens from here and from other places as well that um I just think that I just lost my train of thought. Um, but the economic development piece of it was more clearly called out to me in the actual application. So that's all I want to say at the moment. Thanks.

Thank you, Miss Molton. May I speak to that? Oh, sorry. Who? Who was that? Try again. Start again. Mayor Walters. Miss Hunt.

I just had a question. I guess kind of following up on Miss Molton's the specific application that Community Action made referenced expanding the employment program, but wasn't specific. And Sandy when she spoke to us tonight said that they anticipated actually having more hours of that employment person here in the resource center. Would the CDBG contract the grant with community action actually specify a number of hours? Would we know what we're actually supporting with this money? Um, I probably would not put in the amount of hours unless advised by council and Mayor Walters. It does cover what the project is for and how many people it should cover. The balancing act here is to go back to our 2023 5-year consolidated plan. Each year is a derivative of that. And the balances on the wheel are we have not done any specific strategic plan with our economic development reporting as of yet at all. And I have the fourth year coming and the fifth year is next year. So we really need to hit harder on economic development. That is part of what council promised HUD 5 years a pull that up. But in the contract it has a lot of regulations. Um, and I would have to bring a contract up to show you, but it's it's a little more vague when it comes to public services, but in the economic development center, it would reflect what their application says that they're going to do. Basically,

would that give you sufficient hard numbers to prove that we had in fact spent that money on economic development? Public services has been really tricky to prove. I mean, I get the numbers and I report them to HUD. monitoring is a little tricky to be honest and it's I have to get the numbers back for the people helped more than the hours there. There's no hours really. It's more how many were helped. So that's the stats that you use. That's what HUD is asking for. Yeah. Thank you. Mayor Walters. Miss Colleen McGrath.

Thank you. Uh so as a board member, current board member of Anacortis Family Center, it uh is my responsibility to abstain from discussion uh and voting on this issue because of the competitive nature of the contract. Um, I will say that the $100,000, $107,000 of CDBG money we get every single year, while small and difficult to administer, has made a huge impact every single year on our um housing for folks who need it. It has made a huge impact on people who need extra services for Salvation Army, for Community Action, for AFC, for the Anna uh Able Housing. It is a small amount of money, but every time last month I was with uh Congressman Larson, and I said, "It sounds like a tiny amount. It has a big big impact on our community." I said that to Senator Canwell's staff. I said it to um uh um Senator Murray, it is a really it's a tiny amount and those tiny amounts have a big impact um because we all depend on it. Um I would also like to say that uh you mentioned that you hadn't received any public comments uh on this plan. I know I have at least received a handful of public comments that were included for all of council. So they may not have made it in the packet but we have um been contacted by community members on this situ on this issue. The final thing I have which you've started to touch on is I'm curious to know where the focus of economic development originated

specifically for this funding cycle because I've never that's not been something that we've had a theme for in the past. Um, and I I'm curious to know if that was a council committee level determination or or where that originated from. The consolidated plan was written by my predecessor. Her name was Joanne, and she wrote the five-year consolidated plan, and there are strategic goals on page 36 of that plan that points out what we will be striving for over the five years. And and I guess I would say that I was on the committee who helped write that plan. Okay.

Along with two other people up here. And that is not the intent that I remember. So,

so if I can draw your attention to this screen on page 36 of the five-year plan, there are three principal strategies that were approved by council and sent to HUD and approved. And those items were to provide uh decent housing, provide uh suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunities. And each year when I report to HUD in September on how we've done with the grant, I have to say how many people have benefited from expanding economic opportunities. So far, it has been zero. I haven't done any economic opportunities, but this plan was something I came in on and I'm trying to adhere to it and balance the wheel to make sure we fulfill our promises to HUD.

Correct. So, I would say that that is inaccurate and I think that we have provided um monies from CDBG has supported economic development for the recipients uh and community members in our community. Um I I don't think that is an accurate statement that we have not done so. Mayor Walters, Mr. Courier.

Yeah. I just I appreciate all the comments from my fellow council members. I think what I I keep coming back to is family center is a seven days a week organization in our community. It's not a half half day position going to a one-day position. It is I mean there a heartbeat in our community helping support people with these needs and it may be a minuscule amount and I know your intention with that but it's has a multiplier effect and that's what we're talking about right like this may lead to additional grant funding additional services so it has a lot more value than just the the amount that is being given and so for that reason I just go back to that's where I feel really strongly that family center would benefit our community uh on the greatest level um locally and I I want to continue to do what we can on a regional level and I want to continue to support uh community action any way we can but I think that's what tips it over for me and I just want to bring that back again we have Walters

thank you Mr. Courier Walters Mr. Now I hear my colleague. I respect my colleague. Kindly address the chair.

I'm still got the floor. Okay. And um however, 16,000 is not a tremendous amount of money given that these the nonprofits that service our communities are in bad shape. as we talk about even more so in the cuts that's coming back nationally and we're all fearful of it and we're all having to fight for every single penny we get. I recognize that. I am a fan of Anacortis Family Center. I am a fan of Community Action Salvation Army. I get it. and I donate my money from my house personally to guaranteeing that those dollars are there. But when we're talking about the need that's so great across Scadget County, even here in Anacortis, we fight to, you know, help the homeless. Even though people think that people in Anacortis, we don't have that issue here, but we do. We have a drug issue, too, just like any other city. We're fighting for that as well. I get it. I love my town. I do. It's a beautiful place to live and I can imagine myself being any place else. But when we're talking about $16,000 of multi-million dollar budgets and at the same time an expansion because community action was expanding here in Anacortis trying to augment those services not be duplication of any services that's done by the family center or any other other agency. the word is complimentary. And so when we talk about whether what the impact is on Anacortis, you know, the unspoken impact is what um uh my colleague um Miss Molton was bringing

out. The hundreds of people that are being served one way or another. It's an expansion of service just like Anacortis Family Center has done brilliantly. But it is an expansion. It is called seed money. And when we look at all of the services that are being helped, supported, brought forward by all of the organization, I applaud them

because it's a miracle that we can do as much as we are. But $16,000 in my opinion is not a lot of money for an agency that's trying to get its foothold here in Anquartis to help and augment, not duplicate, but to help and augment. And my argument and reason I'm so passionate about letting it remain the way that it is is because it's not a tremendous amount of money, but it's just enough money to be do to be used for some greater good in an area that not only the family center may be working, but in those that are not able to reach by that. I I I I I just find that personally I find it I'm not sure if the word is outlandish, but the idea that there's plenty that that there are resources and it's a minimal resource. I just think it's so tiny that it's not something that we should quibble over. I think community action needs that particularly given the cuts that they've had too just like I know and this is not something I would be willing to vote for other stuff I would consider not this one may

Thank you Mr. Young Mayor Walters Mr. Pantini, this is a very sad conversation to me. Yeah.

Um because I it just is really horrible that you have two organizations here, both doing critical work for our communities and not enough money to go around. What a not great thing. Um I have a question. Yes, Mr. Fantini. when looking if to allocate money again I come back to where are these dollars being spent and I do understand the need that all communities have a great amount of need and all of Scadget County has a great amount of need and I I get that

but it seems like we're getting less and less and less and less money at the local level to be able to make an impact on so many of these organizations less money that we actually control. I actually, and I might be the minority up here that thinks this, I happen to think that $16,000 is a lot of money. I guess that's just where I'm at in my life now, but I still think that $16,000 is a lot of money

and and worth a fair discussion. Um, the the the program that Community Action wants to fund, and by the way, I want Community Action to succeed. you know, we all up here voted in favor of giving um a significant chunk of money to to community action to continue a program because we saw the growth that was coming from that and because we saw the value. Um but again with this community grant I boil it down to our very small little community of Anacortis. So my question is are the funds if allocated to community action are they going to be used in Anacortis for Anacortis people? According to the application I have received, the answer is yes. And the applications are in your packet because as Sandy was explaining that they would be here a day a week but working with Anacortis residents 2 to 10 hours a week. So it's a new program in this layer. We had to step aside from Anacortis Housing Authority and move them aside and not give any roofs. This year we had $223,000 in asks. Dustin is delightful to work with. I love working with Dustin. We've done multiple projects together over the last few years. Unfortunately, Community Action has applied for public service funding every year and has been denied every year. They have not received any public service funds at all from Anacortis since I've worked here. And I'm trying to keep it fair. We cannot pin one agency as the beall end all always gets the money. That is not fair in HUD's rules and trying to balance that wheel is a little bit tough. So

Anacortis housing authority actually lost the wheel this time and the 51% of this allocation will go to the family center 25% will go to Salvation Army and then the 15% to community action. So, we were trying to keep it fair while checking the boxes for everything we need to do.

Okay. And I do I do hear um my friend Council Member Young's argument and and do understand the the um want to think that, you know, hey, you know, we have a lot of good support already for the family center. A lot of good fundraising happens there. A lot of good. But I don't think that I also think that like there's not only affluent people in Anacortis, there's affluent people all over Scadget County. So I don't think that we should necessarily penalize an organization for being able to do good fundraising. Um, the other question I have is at the at the risk of everybody rolling their eyes at me, um, I'm gonna mention the word compromise and ask, you know, is there ever a situation like is there a does it have to be 15%. Or can like what are the parameters around how we can allocate those funds? Because I'm just I'm curious if we have, you know, a significant amount of council that finds value in this and a significant amount of counsel that finds value in this, can't we find a way to make everybody equally miserable? Actually, I'd had suggested maybe we split the 15% into two 7 and a half% splits, but what was reminded to me is that they wouldn't be able to do as much good and my reporting burden would be doubled as a staff member. So, it does make it harder on staff to report for two agencies. As we know, I did five projects last year. It was very difficult. and can they do as good work with half the amount than the full amount. So, we we tried hard to keep it balanced. It's tough. I want I want all the people to have all the money. I I think Dustin's amazing and I

think Community Action is amazing and um so I have my heart for all of them and the decision is up to you. I must turn in the final report on May 15th with our consortium and now it's in your hands. So, Mayor Walters done. Uh, thank you, Mr. Manini. Mr. McDougall.

Um, I think I'm I'm in support of the allocation as presented, but I wanted to just reiterate or at least call out Miss Cleland McGrath's point. She made a really good point about like clearly every year there is an economic um impact to these funds and how they're allocated regardless. And I understand that it's probably really hard to quantify. um how can we how can we work to essentially help staff or you know get resources to to do that?

I can tell you it's it's underwriting. It's a checklist and I have to assign a coded number to each allocation. Unfortunately, I can only do one code and that will take me through a variety of questions that I have to answer to. I haven't used the economic development codes yet, which comes back to me in September and says where are these codes? But the way that we've worked previously in this consolidated plan, I haven't been able to use that particular coding set as underwriting the grant. Okay. Sounds like you have a you have a path toward being able to do that at least rough quantification at least.

Yeah, I I've I've picked the codes for both agencies already. Cool. So trying to advance. So we're on track essentially to to meet that requirement. Yeah, it's it's designed in the software and I can't I can't allocate two codes to one project unfortunately. Okay. Thank you. I think the point is well taken. do need to have some uh discussion from a management perspective about what are our management objectives with the grant because the the CDBG grant is very expensive to administer and we don't receive a lot of funds. Um we are the what is it the eighth smallest allocation in the nation.

Sixth smallest. Sixth smallest allocation in the nation. All right. Thank you. All right council I think everyone has spoken at this point. I'm interested in seeing you guys land this plane. Mayor Welters, Miss Molton. Um, we need to move. So, I move that we approve the 2026 CDBG annual action plan as presented. Second. There's a motion in a second to approve the CDBG annual action plan as presented. Further discussion. Mayor Walters. Mr. Fantini.

Yes. I'm not ready to vote for this plan tonight. I still have a few additional questions that I feel could be addressed. I'm happy to provide those in writing to both applicants um so that they can get the fair amount of time needed to respond to them, but I still don't feel like I have the necessary information. And I don't feel like are we required to vote on this tonight? I was going to follow up, Miss Snder. Do we have the opportunity to make changes if council decides to following next week's council meeting? and then get it still get it in by the 15th.

Uh, as a consortium with Scadget County and Mount Vernon, we should have everything kind of gathered up by next week together to be double checked with each other to make sure we're ready to submit to HUD, which is due on May 15th. So, so can can you do that with a decision by council on next Monday night? I suppose we could. It will be a last minute reddraft if changed, but it does take some more time to reddraft. Thank you. Yeah. Anything further? Okay. Thanks, Mr. Young.

There's been a motion and a second on the table and unless those motions are amended. No, I'm familiar with the I'm familiar with the parliamentary procedure. Thank you. Uh, further discussion, council. No further discussion. No other motions. Uh, all right. Then, um, I'll proceed to a vote if there's no further discussion. All right. The vote is on the motion to approve the 2026, uh, CDBG action plan as presented. All those in favor of the motion and approval of the plan as presented, say, I. I. All those opposed say no. No.

No. And I'd call for a roll call vote. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. There's a request for a roll call vote. So, we'll call for the role. Mr. Franc, Miss Hunt, yes. Mr. Courier, no. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Cleing McGrath, abstain. Miss Molton? Yes. Mr. McDougall? Yes. Mr. Pantini? No.

Mayor, the eyes are four, the naysay are two. The eyes have it. and the proposal is approved. The annual action plan is approved as presented. We will have more discussion on this. Um although not on the annual action plan itself. Thank you all. Uh and I'm glad that we have two significant organizations here to duel it out for this $15,000. We'll move on now to our next agenda item. That is item 8A, a settlement agreement for the growth management hearings board case 26-2-00008 with William Turner. City attorney Miss Swatnam will present the item.

Thank you, Mayor Walters and members of council, members of the audience. So, the first item tonight, I have no slides for you, uh, but this is a settlement agreement uh, with William Turner, who's in the audience with his attorney, Ian Muntz. Uh, this was an agreement that was achieved through mediation between the parties regarding a growth management board appeal filed by Mr. Turner, alleging that the city failed to meet its statutory deadline to adopt a shoreline master program. So, the parties were able to discuss through mediation. Uh, I would like to say that I appreciate Mr. Turner and Mr. Mun's participation and willingness to have tough challenging conversations and come up with a solution that was workable for both parties. So, the agreement is as presented in the packet. Uh, the kind of the high points are that the city agrees to complete its work to adopt the Shoreline master plan update by the end of calendar year 2027. Uh we also agreed to certain terms regarding public participation to have an open house at the planning commission level. Uh there was agreement regarding information and updates to the city web page to make sure that the information about the update process was available to members of the public. Uh and then finally that the city would uh would evaluate uh comments on an inventory of shoreline areas within the city. Um so staff is recommending an approval of this. This resolves that legal matter and seems to be in the best uh in uh best interest of the city and the parties and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Council any questions or discussion? Mayor Walters. Council any questions discussion motions? Emotions? Mayor Walters. Miss Hunt. I move we authorize the mayor to sign the settlement agreement with William Turner to resolve growth management hearings board case 26-2-00008 as presented and authorize the city attorney to execute any legal pleadings consistent with the settlement agreement on the city's behalf. Second.

We have a motion and a second to approve the settlement agreement as presented. Any further discussion? We'll proceed to the vote. The vote is on a motion to approve the settlement agreement for growth management hearings board case 26-2-00008 with William Turner and authorization for the city attorney to execute related legal proceedings. All those in favor say I. I.

All those opposed say no. The eyes have it and the motion is approved. Thank you. Our next item is CPADNS appeal of the stormwater plan. Miss Swatnam, are you introducing this item? I am introducing this item and I just want to I just want to present council with a couple of slides just to ceue up the process for this. Um I am not intending in any way to discuss the substance of the arguments on the city's behalf. This is just an introduction on the process. So council has that information to guide your decision-making tonight. So the background on the appeals uh are that a sepha determination of non-significance for the stormwater master plan was issued by director Coleman on October 8th of 2025. Um Mr. Muntz filed an appeal of that DNS on October 16th and Mr. Turner represented by Mr. Muntz filed an appeal on October 20th. So the procedure for SEPA appeals or I'm sorry for appeals of SEPA threshold determinations for non-p project i.e. i.e. legislative actions are heard by city council pursuant to AMC 1804250. Council adopted at the end of 2025 resolution 3189 that provides the procedures for appeals of non-project actions. Uh those procedures say that council will decide the appeal on the written submissions meaning no oral argument. Council can make a request for oral arguments only if they make a determination that you need additional information. Uh upon making a decision, council must adopt written findings, effect and conclusions of law in support of that decision. Sorry. So the standard of review in evaluating these appeals are also is also provided by resolution 3189

uh which has three points regarding standard of review. First of all the original uh determination is presumptively correct. Uh the appellant has the burden of proof and the appellant must show that the original decision was clearly erroneous which means that council is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. So your decisions I got fancy with word art here. So you've got three options tonight. So council as you're as you're considering uh the question is did the appellants meet their burden of establishing clear error? If council feels that yes, they did, then you would grant the appeals and direct staff to issue a decision findings in conclusion consistent with that. If you feel that the appellants did not meet their burden, then you would deny the appeals and direct staff to issue to draft a decision findings uh and conclusions consistent with that. If you felt that there were some issues in the appeals in which the appellants met their burden, then you would grant in part and deny in part and direct staff to issue or to prepare a decision findings and conclusions consistent with that. So, uh, in terms of action tonight, um, there there was a request by Mr. Turner over the weekend to delay council's decision and consideration of the next agenda item, which is adoption of the stormwater master plan by two weeks. So my recommendation is that council consider that request first, make a decision about whether you want to delay for two weeks. Uh, and then if council decides to move forward tonight, um, the language in the motion is in your packet. But I just wanted to kind of reiterate that the motion is uh to either grant or deny the appeals of Mr.

Muntz and Mr. Turner of the SEPA DNS regarding the stormwater master plan and direct staff to prepare findings of fact conclusion of of law and decision consistent with what you decide and bring it back on the consent agenda for adoption at the next meeting. So those are all of my comments on procedure and um I am going to sit down and let council work. Thank you. Thank you Miss Sweden. Council, it's now up to you. Mayor Walters, Mr. Ventini,

sorry, I would just like some clarification. I I did see the email shortly before the meeting requesting the two week delay. Um, but I saw that email just before the meeting. So, I'm just I'm a little confused as to what that looks like and what that is. So, I That's pretty much all there was was that that email. So, it's a a two-eek postponement of approving the storm water plan tonight because new storm water information was posted before close of business Friday. Is that accurate?

So, I can I can answer that. Um my understanding is that the the resolution itself, which is the cover sheet that adopts the shoreline master plan, was added to the packet on what? Storm water. I'm sorry, storm water. It's too many plans. It's a lot of assets. It's a lot of assets. Uh that that was added to the packet on Friday, but it but there were no substantive changes to the plan. It was just a matter of not getting the resolution and the packet in time. So, were there any changes to the plan or substantive changes to the plan? No, there were not. So, there were no changes to the plan. Okay.

Aaron and the storm water manager in the back of the room is is indicating that there were no substantive changes to the plan. Okay. Thank you, Mayor Walters. Miss Cleon McGrath.

So, I think that we're supposed to review this based on uh what is included in the packet. If we have more questions to clarify, if I'm understanding this correctly, if we need more information and we need uh to to introduce oral arguments because the information in the packet is not sufficient, then we could open up that option of waiting two weeks um that was requested by the appellant. Um I personally so maybe that's something we should discuss as a full council. I'm not necessarily inclined that I need more oral information. Um the packet is quite thorough from both sides.

Excuse me, Mayor Walters. Miss Hunt. My understanding is that the only item added to the packet on Friday regarding storm water was about the next agenda item. There was nothing added to the packet about this agenda item. That's correct. So my understanding is we could proceed with this item tonight and then have a discussion about whether or not we postpone the next agenda item for two weeks.

Yeah, council is free to postpone its decision on this. However, if you do that, you will need to postpone your decision on the underlying plan. Um, I think it's a little unclear from the email what specifically was requested, uh, except for a two-eek postponement of the storm water items on tonight's council agenda. Mel Walters, Mr. Yeah,

for me what's I've read all of the documents that were um submitted by um those pe everyone that's been interested in this particular discussion and you know and I think to the point that um has been made that there's not been any substantive changes and so for me unless there's something to really catch my attention and say this is something we need to immediately um take a look at or hold back on. I just don't see a reason for us to delay. And maybe I'm missing something, but I don't. And and so short of that, unless there's any other discussions going on, uh I move that we deny the appeals of Ian Muntz and William Turner of the city's sea determination of nonsignificance regarding the storm water master plan update and direct staff to prepare findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision consistent with this decision and bring it back to the consent agenda for adoption at the next meeting.

Second. There's a motion and a second to deny the appeal and to have staff bring this back on consent agenda at our next meeting. Discussion. If there's no discussion, I'll proceed to a vote. Hearing none. Uh the motion is to uh deny the appeal and direct staff to bring this back for consent agenda for at our at our next meeting. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say no. The eyes have it. The appeal is denied and staff will bring this back next week on consent.

Our next item is 8C which is resolution 3212 adopting the stormwater plan. Good evening, mayor. Good evening, city council. Uh tonight, one I'd like to introduce uh Terrell Osborne from Osborne Consulting. She's going to have a little slide presentation for us. Um she uh addressed you guys last year with with the draft of the stormwater master plan. After she's done, I'd like to ask um the council to consider adopting resolution 3212 uh adopting the storm water master plan. Thank you.

Hi everyone. Good evening. Can you hear me? Okay, we can hear you and we can see the presentation. So, we're two for two.

Excellent. As Aaron noted, I and several members of our team presented almost uh just over a year ago last January. And when we did that, we gave a very detailed summary of all of our work and all of our findings. Today is much more brief summary and just a reminder prior to the council voting to adopt the plan. This is just a overview of all the things that we did. As a reminder again, the master plan was an update from the 2007 storm water management plan. So nearly 20 years since the last plan. So there were lots of updates. A key part of the plan was assessing and planning for the new ecology regulations to stay compliant with the MPDES and Clean Water Act and also documenting the storm water assets and inventory and the city operation and maintenance crews are now using the plan um and performing their annual maintenance and helping them stay on track with the pipe cleaning and camaring. Another big element of the plan was identifying the storm water system deficiencies through a storm water model. And again, all this work was completed uh a year ago. The last two bullets and bold are the items that have occurred since the last time we presented. Um finalizing the projects and programs based on the public survey and then issuing an addendum to clarify just some uh couple of items. Again, a key part of the plan was assessing and planning for the new ecology regulations to stay compliant with the MPDS permit and the Clean Water Act. These next two slides show all the new requirements

and when they are due and all the activities that are associated with them. In the elements in bold, I've worked to try to show where the city has made progress and actually completed and on track to meeting the dead line for compliance. I'm not going to go through each and every one of these, but just um wanted to emphasize the heavy lift that cities, not just the city of Anacortis, but all phase 2 communities have um to stay compliant with these new regulations. And as you can see, the city staff has been working and well well on their way in um meeting the deadlines. The capital facility projects that were identified as another big component of the plan. And it's important to note that these were um sourced from a variety of of places and um all of them were reviewed and identified to develop these. And the final list of projects in the plan are a good mix. Um the blue star projects are on the graphic there um represent projects that will protect and restore habitat. The red star projects are those that will address system capacity issues and then the green stars are projects that will either improve water quality or update aging infrastructure. In addition to the projects, there are four stormwater programs proposed in the stormwater master plan. And these include two ongoing programs. The outfall evaluation and rehabilitation and the storm system facilities upgrade restoration and maintenance. Those are ongoing. And then the two new ones are the storm water pipe and repair and replacement to address aging and failing

storm water pipes throughout the city. And then the number four there is the storm system capacity upgrades to address the needed storm water capacity upgrades that were identified in the storm water model. So immediately after we presented in January, the public survey went live and was um available for an entire month all the way through near the end of February. We had 42 responses to the survey. Um each participant answering seven questions and then there was also an eighth question that was an open-ended question for the public. Um this is just a snapshot of the the key findings. You have uh a lot of high awareness and use of local waterways within your community. The city is performing well in terms of maintenance and responsiveness. Top concerns from the community are urban runoff impacts um that impact water quality. Public would like you to prioritize drainage systems, streams, and lakes and keeping a future focus on flooding capacity and infrastructure upgrades. All of this in addition to the open-ended responses were all captured in the plan itself in included in appendix B. So in terms of next steps um and the city's already been moving with as much as they they can um since they have received the results of our our plan. Um, but these are kind of the next steps. Planning and implementing the capital facility projects, working to develop those programs I summarized, and also making sure they're staying compliant with the MPDS permit. And in terms of the stormwater utilities future

and how fast or how slow this plan can be implemented, it really depends on the funding strategy and guidance from council on that. So, that's all I have and Aaron and I are available for questions. Thank you, council. Do you have any questions? Think this is not the first time you've seen this, but uh it would be a good time to ask questions if you plan to approve it later tonight. Mayor Walters,

Mr. Vantini, I'm just curious about some of the the public comment stuff that came back. Um, do you have any information about that? I'm just curious about how many respondents we received because there are a lot of people that make storm water comments to me um throughout the city and I don't see any of their areas on our possible capital facilities improvement places especially your neighborhood.

So I'm not talking about just my neighborhood but um but I'm just curious to know what kind of data we're looking at as far as the public engagement part of this. Oh, Terrell, you got you said 42 uh we had 42 people um report back. We got the information. I can you answer us more on that one?

Sure. Uh we had 42 respondents and we we did have some of those identify. Yes, I have flooding in my front yard and I have you know things like that that were captured included in the plan. This plan is very very high level in terms of like uh capturing and and working to prioritize and and give the city guidance on on where to to investigate next. Um, but I don't think any of those because they were the first time that we were hearing of flooding in my front yard, like that wasn't necessarily going to bounce to the top of a capital project or make it into the the capital projects list that that I shared because those projects have have a longer history. And not that we won't be investigating that or that Aaron and his team won't be investigating that, but it wasn't going to um come to the top of the the list in the in the plan.

Yeah. And I I have every confidence I don't even need to ask the question. I know Aaron and his team are investigating those 42 issues. So, okay. Thank you. Well, and there are uh sometimes when people create their own storm water problems on their own property where conveyance structures exist but they change the landscaping and now they're not using the conveyance structures. Uh Mr. I were just talking about one of those near nearby your location actually coincidentally. That is correct. Mayor Walters.

Miss Molton. Uh just a quick question about um the Red Star projects on I don't know what page the capital facilities projects but H&H it looks like those are Fidalgo Bay Road flood mitigation. Um and then 37th and 34th Street storm conveyance reconstruction.

Um so that's just what does H&H mean? So the red the red star projects were a combination of projects that the city had a long history of of flooding and and issues. And then when we did the storm water modeling, it also showed that the pipe was and the system was undersized and didn't have capacity. So, it was both an ongoing problem and then the flooding or the the modeling documented and and showed that yes, we actually do have a a problem and and those projects would address the and add additional capacity into the system to solve the issue.

Thank you. Council, uh, if you don't have any more questions, do you have any, uh, motions? Walters, Miss Hunt, do we need to affirmatively make a decision on whether or not we're postponing anything about this decision tonight? No. You received a request from the public to postpone. You need not respond to that. I would move to adopt resolution 3212 adopting the stormwater master plan.

Second motion a second to approve the resolution as presented 3212 adopting the stormwater master plan. Discussion. If there's no discussion, I'll proceed to a vote on the motion to approve resolution 3212. All those in favor of approving resolution 3212 say I. I. All those opposed say no. The eyes have it and the resolution is approved. Thank you Mr. Eststerhalt. Thank you Miss Osborne. Thank you.

We'll move on to item 8D ordinance 5028 amending regulations for vehicle and boat repair. Hi, good evening uh Mayor Council and members of the audience. My name is Libby Grage and I am here this evening to present some proposed amendments uh that would impact um vehicle and boat repair and boat sales within the industrial zone. Um so as I mentioned uh the the proposed changes would affect the Anacortis Municipal Code Title 19 unified development code and um primarily what they would achieve is to expand the allowed vehicle repair uses within the industrial zone um as well as small boat repair and sales uses within within that zone. Um, and there as we were going through the process noticed some inconsistencies in current code that can could use some cleanup to help improve uh clarity and and administration of of the code overall. Um, just wanted to note as well that um, staff identified the need for these amendments after becoming aware that our current code, which I'll get a little more into detail here in a minute, um,

uh, does not currently permit um, smallcale vehicle repair or smallcale um, boat repair or sales uses within the industrial ustrial zone and I have a slide here that um shows where the industrial zone probably all familiar with it but it's the the pink area here east of our avenue and west of Fidalgo Bay south of 22nd and north of uh 34th. So, um, again going back to the the impetus for the proposed changes, um, realized that, uh, the the smaller scale vehicle repair and boat sales and repair wasn't a permitted use and, um, thought that was odd because there are quite a few, um, uses like that within the industrial zone. And so in doing a little bit of research, uh we found that the um there was a major code reorganization and update that occurred in 2019 um where the permitted use chapters for all of the zones were kind of uh not I won't say reshuffled, but they reorganized and we completely overhauled the way that we deal with uh you know which uses are permitted and with which zones. they went into a ended up in a table which you're all familiar with I'm sure. Um and what we noticed was that prior to this reorganization um all types of repair uses were permitted in the industrial zone. There was no qualification on that. It's just repair then it's a permitted use. And so, um, we believe that it was an oversight to exclude these smaller scale, uh, vehicle repair and boat sales from the industrial use or excuse me,

industrial zone. And so this amendment will help to, uh, address that. Um this is the an excerpt a modified excerpt from table 1941050 which is the permitted uses matrix for um commercial or excuse me mixed use and industrial zones which is which the industrial zone is part of uh the industrial uh the category of industrial zones and um this is the problem that we identified and the way that um small small boat sales, rental and repair. So, and vehicle repair. So, it started out with vehicle repair and then we noticed the problem with the boat sales, excuse me, boat sales and uh repair as well. Um but the those uses are grouped up in a general service category of uses. And um the way that the table you works is that if you come over to the applicable zone and look in the cell, if it's blank, it means prohibited. So all of the long list of uses that fall under general service um that are not heavy service or public safety facility are prohibited in the industrial zone. Um, we also notice some well the amendments would also address some inconsistencies in how uh these types of uses are regulated depending on the on the category that they are within. So um you can see under general service we have small boat sales, rental and repair and also vehicle repair and commercial vehicle repair. Uh but then when we go under a different category of commercial uses which is vehicle sales rental except as listed below we have a

reference to um boat sales and rental with no qualification on how large the boats can be. Um and then again we have reference to boat u boat repair under the industrial use category um which also has no you know qualification on on how on the size of boats. So just you know multi mult same use covered in multiple categories makes it confusing for everyone involved. Um so hopefully these changes will address that. So, um the proposed amendments are going to affect uh the permitted use table um and also the commercial use standards in AMC1 1944. Um and then those are the two sections uh that will be specifically impacted. And you have this this is just a screenshot from the um document that you have in your packet. Um these are the the attachment or this is the attachment to the ordinance, the draft ordinance. Um so basically what the changes would accomplish is to separate out from that general service category, small boat repair, um minor vehicle repair or excuse me, vehicle repair. So, we've created two separate categories for different intensities of of vehicle repair. And those would all be listed separately under the general service row um so that we can regulate them um differently than the general service category or we can assign a diff a different um use allowance. So, we've added in the blue um that these uses are permitted in the industrial zone. So hopefully that will help with clarity. People won't have to go to the general service category and read the definition

and try to figure out if you know their their this use is is allowed um based on that. Um and then we've also these references are to um the specific use categories and we've added some oops def um as I mentioned minor vehicle repair and major vehicle repair terms and definitions. Uh and we've also added a zone specific standard for the industrial zone related to um the minor uh vehicle repair to ensure that um higher customer turnover type uses like um you know oil oil change facilities or or tire changes where people are in and out and it's quick fast turnover, lots of customer traffic. um you know the type of situation that you know could be incompatible with a surrounding industrial uh area. Um we've specifically said that that type of use um that has that kind of turnover as a primary characteristic of the use is not permitted in the industrial zone. Um, and then this is just a final clarification. Uh, just kind of reworking since we were in this chapter and it deals with vehicle and boat sales. Um, it's just reformatting this section to be consistent with how other sections are formatted. Um, it doesn't change anything substantive. Uh it just makes things consistent throughout the code and how they're formatted so people can easily understand, you know, when they're looking at different sections. Oh, okay.

I Yeah, I I this is um this is how things are formatted here. Um the I think that was pretty similar. We also changed some terminology um just using boat sales or rental uh instead of marine because we had this separate category that addressed uh that type of use. So just consistency between terms is great throughout the code. Um and that's my quick presentation. Uh well no I have a sorry just what we've been working on with this amendment. Um the planning department released the proposed amendment proposal back in March 2026 last month. Um conducted environmental review, issued a sep threshold determination, did all of the um notifications of the appropriate agencies and we uh the planning commission conducted a public hearing on April 14th, 2026. Um and after the public hearing recommended approval with a couple of changes that are reflected in the draft that you have. Um and finally, well, we're here tonight, April 27th, with council review and discussion on the first trade. And that's happy to answer any questions. Mayor Walters,

Miss Hunt, Miss Gridge, I have had some concern expressed to me from constituents about well, one about having any non-marine related use in the industrial zone, but I think that that's we have history that there has been non-marine use in the industrial zone. I am I like the fact that we have explicitly excluded quick lube and tire changes and whatnot, but if a business is involved in vehicle repair and also does oil changes, is that allowed? Because

it it is if that type of service is included with the major vehicle repair. So, it's more looking at what what is the primary type of activity that's occurring. if it's so um the the quick turnover type use is what is prohibited in the industrial zone, but they still may be doing major, you know, body work and and do an oil change while they're doing that.

I think the concern from the constituents I spoke with is that there especially this time of year, you'll see it, there's a lot of boats being moved on the roadways and there's not generally a whole lot of vehicle traffic down there. People can wait. People can go around. But we don't want to set ourselves up to have a bunch of people zipping in, zipping out in a hurry, tapping their fingers while the travel lift goes by. Agree. And we think that this will address that. Well, we've specifically prohibited the most vehicle intensive use. Um, and and I'm I'm comfortable with the way that it's written. The planning commission was comfortable. Um, so

I didn't read I didn't watch the planning commission meeting. I did read this documents. There were their public comments given there was a one member of the public that provided um comments and some pretty good detailed information about uh their particular business. Okay. Um and then we also had one written comment that was submitted in support of the proposed amendments. Thank you. Mayor Walters, Miss Cleon McGrath.

Thank you. So, uh, going back kind of a historical lens, my sense from that 2016 comp plan was that we wanted to keep it industrial because it was marine related and we had a finite amount of land available to kind of support maritime related things. And this these were our we had really large parcels down in that area and we wanted to preserve the option for them to be utilized in that manner. Um and I think that's why we've got that light manufacturing one zone along Highway 20 when as we go out of town before we get to the um Twin Bridges. Um and so and we see those car dealerships out there and things like that. Um that being said when this uh ca started there were rumblings about it. Um I did watch the it was helpful to watch the community or not uh the planning commission meeting. Um I think they had really good discussion. I think that the one person who was able to give kind of insight as to someone who would benefit from this change was very thoughtful and reasonable. Um, so while I I I'm concerned whenever we start to see large parcels get kind of broken up into smaller parcels when we only have a finite amount of industrial area zoning. Um I do think that this makes sense with the clear understanding that uh these are more like longterm longer um projects for vehicles and not your one two hour 3 hour when you wait in the waiting room um to have some routine service done. I also think that keeping those type of routine service um businesses along commercial, we have a ridiculously long commercial road with

vacant lots and a lot of buildings available. So just imagining a number of those going to the industrial zone because they could do quick turnaround these oil changes and things like that I think would be really detrimental not only for the look of the downtown but also for those surrounding businesses that are lunch spots and coffee spots and things like that. So the way that staff wrote this um I thought was really well done. I think the discussion that happened at planning commission I was very in support of. There was a lot of talk of how do you I how do you clarify and I appreciated that work that at that level. Um the asterric with the separate this is not prohibit is not prohibited prohibited at the bottom is what is it? Which one is it?

Well is prohibited. Yes. is not quite clear, but actually makes sense in the long run when we're having applicants try to figure out what they can do. So, I'm I'm in favor of this and I appreciate all the work that went into it.

Walters, Mr. Young. Um, thank you again, Liby. Um, Miss Graange, um, another stellar job as always. You know, you you bring it in so many wonderful ways to the city. I've watched you every in the eight years I've been here on council and um you know it's always impressive the um team that we have internal to the city that's working as hard as it is to um make best use of those limited dollars that we do have. Okay. So, I just wanted to say that. But also, you know, I think when we as a city are beginning to look at economic development, where we are, where we want to be, how we're going to get there, part of that is that traditional models are not necessarily applicable given the current state of where we are, AI, um, you know, industries that, you know, whether it's warehousing and shipping from online, people being able to work from home and not. What I appreciate is that in given that we have a limited a finite amount of space that we can do and try to expand the base of what we need here in Anacortis that gives service to everyone that comes through in the regional that we begin to look at what other ways we can use our limited resources for maximum yield. It may not be that every single spot that we have will go to Maritime. As much as we love maritime, appreciate maritime, it's our bread and butter here in the town. But, you know, there are points at which we're going to need to make some maybe um detours that augments the underpinning of what we already have here. And so what I really appreciate is us keeping our eyes

open and us being willing to explore whatever options there are and make the best decision we possibly can as a collection and for the city. So I really appreciate it. I think this is something that I hope and will, you know, continue to benefit our city. But you know what I really appreciate is that sometimes we do have to think both in the box and out the box and be willing to be bold enough to take a chance and try. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Young. Mayor Walters. Mr. Fantini.

Yes. Um I watched the planning commission uh discussion as well and it was quite thorough. And what I love about the planning commission discussions is I can watch those and those are members of our community that aren't elected. They aren't paid. They're volunteers and they come from all they don't have to worry about getting reelected and they don't have to worry about, you know, all this other stuff. So, it tends to be these really great community conversations. Um I I hear and understand the the need to save industrial zone for um marine use and everything and and I agree that that you know industrial land is precious. Um, however, we are also at a time in our city where money is is very precious and having businesses open and growing and operating are extremely important. So, I don't really This is bad. I'm sorry, but I don't really care if the money that is coming in right now is from the marina or from an auto repair shop. um I want all our businesses to thrive and do well and help contribute to um a robust anacortis. Um so I am in in support of this. The other thing that I want to say too, you know, this is only my third year um up here and I have heard um previously council member but now Mayor Walters say many times um if there's an error in the code, if there is something that is not lining up correctly, bring it to our attention so that we can fix it. And I think this is a really perfect example of constituents bringing something to our attention and us hopefully potentially fixing it because there are a lot of businesses down there

right now that if we didn't pass something like this, you know, they're they're new businesses. They don't currently meet the uses. That's shutting down potential revenue that our city is generating. Um, so I think this is a really good opportunity to support local businesses and and help them grow while still being responsible with that industrial land. And we can always change the code again later if we need to. Well, and as a code amendment, it affects everyone equally. Yes.

I I will actually say that too. What's I have never understood quite the um uh outright permitted uses. I was always I had a lot of concern around like getting rid of conditional permitting um because that's kind of happened over the past, you know, however long. And I was like, well, how do we have these kind of conversations about um if something's going on that should be going on, but it doesn't, you know, shouldn't we have a conditional process about that? And what you realize is by being able to change these codes, it is in essence being able to be flexible, but as the mayor did point out, flexible for everyone equally. So there's a lot of overhead in changing the codes, but that's why we have Libby. Uh, and uh, most of the time less overhead than in a conditional use permit process as well. Mayor Walters,

Mr. Fantini. Um, if there's no more discussion, uh, I would love to see this come back on, um, the consent agenda, unless there are others who would like to see it come back just again for a second time. If there's no objection, we'll direct staff to bring this forward for approval on the consent agenda next week. Hearing none, that's what we'll do. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Grage. Thank you, Mr. Coleman for your quick work on this. Uh, as I like to say, the code did not come down from the mountain on stone tablets and where it is in error, we will fix it. And uh, that means get ready for more. Planning Commission 2. Thank you all. That is our last agenda item and I'll go ahead and conclude and adjourn the meeting.