01/21/2025 - Work Study - MinutesDocusign Envelope ID: 9FB8982A-2C99-4DEB-B6E2-F1ADB2FB6DEF
ORCHARD
Meeting Location:
Council Chambers
216 Prospect Street
Port Orchard, WA 98366
City Council
Minutes
Contact us:
Phone (360) 876-4407
cityhall@portorchardwa.gov
www.portorchardwa.gov
Work Study Session of Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Roll Call was taken by the City Clerk as follows:
Present: John Morrissey, Councilmember, Position At -Large
Heidi Fenton, Councilmember, Position No. 5
Robert Putaansuu, Mayor
Eric Worden, Councilmember, Position No. 4
Fred Chang, Counilmember, Position No. 6
Scott Diener, Mayor Pro-tem, Position No. 3
Jay Rosapepe, Councilmember, Position No. 2
Mark Trenary, Councilmember, Position No. 1
Staff present: Principal Planner Fisk, HR Manger Lund, Chief of Police Brown, City
Attorney Archer, City Clerk Wallace, and Deputy City Clerk Floyd.
Staff present via Zoom: Public Works Director Ryan.
Audio/Visual was successful.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Putaansuu led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The executive session was not held.
Mayor Putaansuu explained Councilmember Diener is running late and asked if the Critical Area Code
Update discussion item could be held last.
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A. Training on Social Media
City Attorney Archer provided a presentation 'City of Port Orchard City Council Social Media Use: a
Refresher' which included existing city policies, key legal issues for discussion, personal verses City
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business, public records retention, communication with the public, free speech/public forum, and
use of public facilities/PDC.
Additional discussion was held regarding elections, personal Facebook pages and comments and
the Open Public Meetings Act.
B. Council Endorsement Policy
Mayor Putaansuu and Council briefly discussed when to hold this year's Council Retreat and agreed
it will be held during the April 15th City Council work study meeting.
City Attorney Archer explained many legislative bodies in our state are taking positions on
initiatives. There is a process before it can be done which includes hearing from both sides on an
issue. The City can invite people to speak on their bonds and levies, but they cannot ask the Council
to endorse, or not endorse, as they can only provide factual information.
Mayor Putaansuu said the City's policy [to not endorse or oppose a campaign for election of any
person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition placed on a
ballot for the vote of the people] was adopted by Council in 2023.
Councilmember Diener joined the meeting at 7:18 p.m.
Councilmember Rosapepe said he strongly feels that when something is to the benefit of the City,
we should listen to both sides, and come out as a Council to support, or not support the issue.
Before 2023, Councilmembers were not telling people how to vote, rather, they were voicing
support, or opposition, of something to the benefit of the City.
Additional discussion was held regarding what the Council should take a stance on and their
responsibilities as Councilmembers versus their personal opinions on bonds and levies, if a
resolution in support, or opposition, should be unanimous in order to adopt it, and the process to
repeal the current policy ordinance.
Councilmembers concurred to have staff draft an ordinance to repeal the current policy
ordinance and bring forward at a Council meeting in February.
B. Critical Area Code Update
Principal Planner Fisk explained as part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update
implementation, these amendments are to ensure compliance with the Growth Management Act
and integrate Best Available Science in protecting critical areas within the City of Port Orchard. The
critical areas defined in the RCW include wetlands, areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers
used for potable water, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, and
geologically hazardous area.
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At the December and January Planning Commission meetings, the Planning Commission reviewed
all proposed revisions. These are the same documents as provided in tonight's City Council packet.
No additional edits have been made since the Planning Commission's last meeting. The proposed
amendments included in the draft Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) are intended to align with current
state and federal requirements, integrate Best Available Science (BAS), and enhance clarity and
consistency within the code which include code reorganization, wetland buffers, wetland mitigation
hierarchy, stream buffer terminology, and riparian Management Zones. These updates aim to
ensure consistency with state law and best practices while balancing environmental protection and
development needs.
The Department of Community Development released the draft revisions to the CAO in
December, which were subsequently posted on the City's website. Public and Planning
Commission comments on the draft CAO have been received. In response, staff is developing a
comment matrix summarizing all feedback received. This matrix will include a disposition for each
comment, indicating whether it has been incorporated into the Ordinance. Once completed, the
matrix will be made publicly available to inform the Planning Commission's decision -making
process.
Staff plans to engage in further discussions with the Planning Commission at their February 4
meeting. Following this, a public hearing on the proposed amendments may be scheduled for the
March Planning Commission meeting, where a recommendation to the City Council is anticipated.
Once the Planning Commission has held the public hearing and provided their recommendation, the
updated Critical Areas Ordinance is expected to be presented to the City Council for consideration
in Spring 2025.
Additionally, Principal Planner Fisk introduced Chad Wallin with Grette Associates who provides
third -party review of development applications and has been instrumental in providing
expertise with the Critical Area Code update.
Additional discussion was held regarding the comprehensive plan, other jurisdictions Critical Area Code
updates, comments received so far, buffer changes, tree growth, and streams.
4. GOOD OF THE ORDER
Councilmember Rosapepe said he filed his F1 today [with the Washington State Public Disclosure
Commission].
Councilmember Fenton voiced her appreciation with a photo sent by Chief of Police Brown and
also asked if Council could receive copies of bonds and levy information a week in advance of
Council meetings.
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5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Signed by:
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Brandy Wallace, MMC, City Clerk
Signed by:
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Robert Putaansuu, Mayor
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