Council discusses public safety, amends code and budget

July’s first town council meeting on the 13th gave the 45 residents attending plenty to discuss. There were two public hearings and a discussion on policing and safety. The latter brought Skagit County Sheriff’s Office staff Undersheriff Chad Clark, Chief of Field Operations Chris Baldwin, and La Conner detachment Sgt. Jeff Willard into attendance.

Administrator Scott Thomas framed the town’s need for law enforcement services as both a planning and budget issue. Councilmembers had a five page report outlining “Options for Public Safety Services” ranging from continuing a contract with the sheriff’s office, to the Swinomish police department, a town marshal and limited public safety services by town staff, emphasizing hiring a code enforcement officer.

Mayor Ramon Hayes started the discussion, saying “The crux of the matter is if we want more law enforcement we have to pay for it” and called for an apples to apples look in focusing on services and comparing choices.

Baldwin recited the breadth provided by the sheriff’s office, from trained officers to embedded clin-icians through detectives, traffic and undercover staff and K-9 dog patrols.

Thomas noted a marshal is a trained and certified officer. Council discussed the number of hours per week and additional code enforcement staffing as critical. Councilmember Bill Stokes suggested two parttime employees could better cover weekends.

Hayes circled back to the budget as the basis for developing options.

Town Planner Michael Davolio spoke first on the mandated shoreline management plan update, which resulted in council approving an ordinance updating the plan.

Council approved legislative amendments, updating definitions, modifying and adding to the plan’s internal organization and conforming it to Department of Ecology language and procedures. Aquaculture and wetland buffer requirement were added as a use, and shoreline critical areas made a separate appendix.

Councilmember Jacques Brunisholz noted seawater rise is a county issue and several councilmembers responded to Davolio’s prompt for a follow up to the 2017 sea level rise design charette bringing in scientists as resources.

Davolio opened the third public hearing to amend Title 15 of the town’s municipal code, cleaning it up, Stokes said and eliminating internal inconsistencies. Council’s vote reduced lot size minimums to 4,000 square feet from 5,000 square feet. Stokes abstained, projecting there will be regrets reducing lot sizes and setbacks to five feet from eight feet.

With no discussion council passed a budget amendment adding $ 271,502 in revenue from general fund increases of $249,490, from additions of $117,034 for the new Maple Avenue Park and $132,456 from federal CARES fund, COVID-19 support. Repair of Pioneer Park’s shelter from storm damage received a $22,012 increase.

Expenditures totaled $163,048 in eight fund categories, including $1,000 for First on First, $7,000 for wildfire suits for the fire department, $18,800 for the speed monitoring reader board signs, $40,025 for the Waterfront Park pavilion and related engineering fees and $47,000 for the Channel Drive easement survey.

Quinn Sherman was hired to have his Quality Services business provide cleaning for Maple Hall and the Civic Garden Center.