Council considers bond for fire boat

If February's first town council meeting was any indication, new La Conner Mayor Marna Hanneman is in it for the long haul.

The marathon Feb. 13 session covered new and old business and multiple discussion and action items before concluding with a closed executive session.

"I thought after the first month," said Hanneman, who took office Jan. 1, "that things would be kind of calm. Then February came."

The 95-minute meeting began on a pair of somber notes.

Resident Debbie Aldrich shared that former La Conner singer-songwriter and community theater director Holly Graham, involved in numerous civic projects here in the 1980s and 1990s, had passed away recently at her Olympia residence.

Graham visited La Conner last September to attend Tom Robbins Day festivities, Aldrich said.

Under questioning from Councilmember Ivan Carlson, a member of the fire department ,. Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra confirmed there was a suicide earlier this month involving a man who jumped from Rainbow Bridge.

Carlson lamented that La Conner does not have a functioning fire boat and wondered if the person would have been rescued given the rapid response time of a local emergency vessel.

Carlson was part of an official Town delegation that lobbied district lawmakers in Olympia earlier this month for funding to acquire a fire boat, primarily to protect historic waterfront and marina areas.

"It doesn't seem like we'll get any money," Carlson reported. "Sen. (Ron) Muzzall gave us a little hope, suggesting we might get the money from DNR (the state Department of Natural Resources)."

Carlson noted that DNR administers tideland leases along the La Conner waterfront.

"If we can't get the money from DNR, we need to look into bonding rates," he said.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas committed to finding current bond terms and rates.

Carlson noted ever rising construction costs and wished the initiative had been taken earlier, saying, "We should've started the process for the fire boat five years ago."

Thomas said the Town's strong cash reserves are due to postponing 2023 projects when bids came in higher than expected.

"We didn't do some of the projects we wanted to do," said Thomas, "because costs doubled or tripled. It would've drawn down those funds significantly."

Building prospects

Planning Director Michael Davolio reported Town and Port of Skagit staffs had a productive meeting that morning.

Davolio announced progress between the Town and KSA Investments on the 306 Center Street project, a planned multi-unit residential building approved in 2022 under a conditional use permit and a source of controversy with residents of the adjoining neighborhood.

Thomas suggested a community meeting to gather public input on what to do with the Jenson property, which is nestled near Pioneer Park and the approach to Rainbow Bridge.

The property could be a topic for a Saturday morning with the mayor meeting, he suggested.

Hanneman was supportive.

"The more we get it out there, the more we can get discussions going around town," she said.

Other council actions

Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance authorizing them operate as the transportation benefit district they agreed to in 2023. The district can generate revenue – probably through a small hike in the sales tax– for street repairs and upgrades.

It approved planning commission-recommended cha nges to Chapter 10 of the Town Comprehensive Plan designating La Conner Swinomish Library, Maple Hall and Town Hall as essential public facilities.

"The library wanted to be designated as an essential public entity to help it with the grant application process," Davolio said.

Members approved a bid of just under $300,000 for installation of a replacement roof at the La Conner fire station.

"I don't think (the price) is going to come down," said Town Public Works Director Brian Lease. "We don't have control over that."

Lease said the new roof is guaranteed for 30 years.

After a lengthy discussion, the council agreed to drop Zoom for hybrid meetings and pursue options for those unable to attend in-person.

The Town's monthly Zoom subscription runs nearly $300 and several meetings have been marred by profane language.

Council recognized Bill Stokes, who guided the Emergency Management Commission through its initial year. Jerry George will chair the advisory group in 2024.

Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain brought up the options to improve safety and reduce traffic and parking congestion on First Street south of the post office.

"It's very dangerous for our guys," agreed Reinstra. "We've had some close calls."

Downtown parking was the major theme of a community "mingle" last night at the Civic Garden Club.

The 10-minute executive session that followed the public meeting dealt with a personnel item. No action was taken.