City Council Regular Meeting

Detailed briefing

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING — AUGUST 5, 2024 • Council approved the consent agenda with corrections. Members also discussed a requested addition to the previous meeting’s minutes based on a statement attributed to Mr. Everett. Because the exact wording was not recalled, the recording is to be checked and the matter brought back at the next council meeting. • The Harbor Master building’s two bids were reported at $1.9 million and $2.5 million, well above an earlier anticipated cost of $650,000 that was based on older, less detailed plans. A working group developed approximately 14 changes intended to lower costs, including eliminating skylights and reducing parts of the HVAC system, window specifications and piling work. • Staff estimated that the revised Harbor Master scope could save $500,000 or more compared with the low bid. Even with those changes, the estimated project range discussed was approximately $1 million to $1.4 million. Council was told that the actual amount will remain unknown until new bids are received. • Council discussed portable, leased or prefabricated public restroom units as a possible alternative to constructing bathrooms as part of the Harbor Master addition. Concerns included appearance at the harbor, pumping and maintenance costs, and whether a temporary solution would fit with the rest of the renovation. Staff agreed to make an initial review of cost and availability. No final restroom choice was recorded. • The city reported that a petition seeking repeal of Ordinance 439, the zoning code, contained 348 valid signatures. The city attorney said the petition was nevertheless defective because it did not state that it was addressed to council, language required by Section 7.10 of the City Charter. The attorney said a correction would require circulating a new petition and collecting signatures again. • Public comments on the petition were divided. Several speakers asked council to respect the signers, help clarify the proper language, reconsider the zoning ordinance, or place the issue on the ballot. Other speakers said petition organizers were responsible for ensuring compliance before collecting signatures. Council voted to enter closed session at 7:42 p.m. to review written legal opinions. The transcript provides no decision after that session. Worth watching: 1. Whether council takes any later action on Ordinance 439 or a ballot question. 2. Whether revised Harbor Master bids achieve the projected savings. 3. What restroom alternative staff finds practical and visually acceptable. Upcoming: Harbor Master bidding was discussed for winter, with construction anticipated for fall 2025; the disputed minutes language is expected to return at the next council meeting. Why it matters: Council is balancing a major harbor investment against rising costs while facing unresolved public demands for a vote on the city’s zoning code.

Agenda items

• 4B · Ordinance 439 Referendary Petition — Open and Closed Sessionapproved

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.