03/15/2011 - Work Study - MinutesCity of Port Orchard
Council Meeting Minutes
Work Study Session of March 15, 2011
1. 7:00p.m. Call to Order
Mayor Coppola called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Pro-Tem John Clauson and
Councilmembers Fred Chang, Carolyn Powers, Jerry Childs, Rob Putaansuu, Jim Colebank, and
Fred Olin was present. Police Chief Alan Townsend, Public Works Director Mark Dorsey,
Development Director James Weaver, City Clerk Patti Kirkpatrick, Deputy Clerk Brandy
Rinearson, and City Attorney Greg Jacoby were also present.
2. Presentation: Dreamland -Skateboard Park
Presentation was not held.
3· Discussion: Police Officer Hiring
Police Chief Townsend provided a brief overview of his departmental staffing; noting that with the
Bethel North Annexation there would be an increase in the number of calls. He explained that in
2009 the volume went up 12.7% and an additional19.2% in 2010. He sought support to begin the
hiring process for one new officer due to the time it will take to bring that officer up to speed on
departmental policy, which can take up to six months or longer.
Councilmember Clauson reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the Chiefs request as
well as other departmental requests for additional staff and equipment should Bethel North be
annexed in 2011. The Finance Committee supported the Chief hiring one new police officer as
there were other impacts to that department in that one officer is leaving in May or June, and
another officer may be deployed on Army Reserve orders.
Council Direction: The Police Chief was directed to start the hiring process of one new officer and
Councilmember Clauson will notify the Treasurer to prepare for a budget adjustment for approval
at a future Council meeting.
Police Chief Townsend left the Work Study Session meeting at 7:34p.m.
4· Presentation/Discussion: Bay Street Pedestrian Pathway
Norm Olson with Olson and Associates and Joe Callahan with GEO Engineers provided the
Council with Alternative 3A; which was the result of the discussion at the Joint Work Study
Session with the Port of Bremerton, noting the following:
• The four houses and garage along Bay Street are partially in the City's right-of-way;
• The parking for these homes will be impacted due to the width of the pathway;
• Width of the proposed trail is a minimum of 10 feet paved with a preference of 14 feet,
which allows 2 feet on either side of the pathway;
• A section of the design will be to move a small portion of the road over to reduce the
impact to one of the home's garage located by the seawall;
• Pilings and beams under one of the houses may cause issues relating to the structural
changes later into phase;
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• The City will need to work with Kitsap Transit to incorporate the path design to the
Annapolis Ferry parking lot;
• Behind the St. Vincent building is an out building that will need to be removed;
• Bay Ford is concerned with the trail due to security, but remains open for discussion;
• There is a portion of the trail along Bay Street between Blackjack Creek and Mitchell Point
will need to raised to accommodate high tide;
• The Arnold Creek culvert, towards the end of the trail, will need to be repaired and is a
protected salmon stream, which will require additional permitting and requirements;
• The first phase of the project is the Design Phase; and the Second Phase consists of right-
of-way acquisition and easements; and
• During the Shoreline permit process staff will address parking impacts.
Council Direction: The Public Works Director was directed to move forward with the design
presented at the meeting; to bring forward to the March 22, 2011, Council meeting a change order
in the amount of $38,500, for the costs to implement the design changes and for a time extension.
5· Discussion: Change from Second Class to Code/Charter Form of Government
Mayor Coppola indicated the City is one out of 11 remaining cities in Washington that are not a
Code City; and he felt it would be to the City's benefit to change to a Code City.
City Attorney Jacoby provided a handout that provided information on the differences between a
Second Class City versus a Code City; indicating the main authority of what a City is governed by
is dependent on which section of the statutes the City is governed by. Mr. Jacoby stated the
process to keep the current form of government, Council/Strong Mayor, and to only change from
a Second Class City to a Code City requires the Council to adopt a Resolution setting forth its
intent. The citizens of the City then have 90 days to file a referendum petition. If the referendum
is filed, then the Council must put the change to a vote at an election within 180 days. If no
referendum is filed, then the Council adopts an ordinance at their next regular meeting, which is
filed with the State and the City of Port Orchard becomes a Code City, with a Council/Strong
Mayor form. Mr. Jacoby stressed that no changes to the existing structure would occur, i.e.
organizational structure would remain the same.
Council Direction: The City Clerk was directed to invite Pat Mason with MRSC to attend the April
19, 2011, Work Study Session to provide more in-depth knowledge on the pros and cons in
changing classification; the City Attorney was directed to provide more information on becoming
a Code City and to prepare a draft Resolution on becoming a Code City, Council/Strong Mayor
form of government for the April26, 2011, Council meeting.
6. Discussion: Change from Mayor to City Manager Form of Government
Mayor Coppola pointed out that the City is growing and will continue to grow as required by the
Growth Management Act; and is requesting Council to consider changing to an administrator as
the City needs to consider professional management.
City Attorney Jacoby explained that should the Council change the form of government to a
Council/Manager after changing to a Code City, it had the same requirements as the previous
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discussion. Should the Council choose to reclassify as a Code City/Council/Manager form of
government, then upon adoption of the Ordinance (or election if a referendum petition is filed) all
seven councilmembers would be required to stand for election within 180 days. The four
Councilmembers that received the most votes would serve a four-year term and the remainder
would serve a two-year term to start the staggering of four year terms . The Council would then
appoint the Mayor and hire a City Manager.
Council Direction: No direction was given to staff.
7· Discussion: Status of Mayor -Part-Time or Full-Time for 2011 Election
City Attorney Jacoby indicated the filing fee is based upon the salary of the position as of June 6,
2011. Kitsap County Elections needs to know the salary in order to set the filing fee . The question
before Council is whether the Mayor's salary and position going into this fall's general election be
full-time or a part-time.
After a brief discussion a majority of the Council came to a consensus that the City has grown to
the status of having a full-time Mayor.
Council Direction: The City Clerk was directed to notify Kitsap County Elections Division that the
Mayor's position will be listed as a full-time Mayor and to provide the salary information.
8. Other topics
Councilmember Chang requested the following item be added to the March 22, 2011, meeting
agenda :
• Discussion: Council Committees
9· Next Work Study Session-Tuesday, Apri119, 2011