Busy meeting for a 3-person town council

It was a La Conner Town Council meeting that nearly wasn’t.

The Nov. 26 session at Maple Hall was almost scuttled due to lack of a quorum among the five-members.

Councilmembers Ivan Carlson, Mary Wohleb and Annie Taylor were absent as the 6 p.m. start time approached. Fortunately, Taylor – who Mayor Marna Hanneman said was under the weather – shook off the effects of fatigue and illness and arrived to save the day 10 minutes later.

“We’ll try to make this as short as possible,” the mayor stressed, as Taylor took her seat, “so that Annie can go home.”

With consultant Tom Beckwith also out of pocket due to a scheduling conflict, it was left to Assistant Planner Ajah Eills to make an update on the status of the south end revitalization plan.

Eills said the project will produce “a plan that defines allowable land uses in this specific area.”

That area comprises about four acres adjoining the south waterfront, formerly a bustling industrial zone home now has parcels owned by Triton America, Dunlap Towing and the Town.

Eills reported that an online survey seeking public input on how best to address the subject properties had drawn 104 responses.

“That’s pretty good for a small town like La Conner,” Eills said, adding that “the majority of respondents live here but don’t have a formal association with downtown.”

She said the project will be revisited at the Dec. 3 planning commission meeting and a Dec. 11 public forum.

“We’ll talk about implementation and financing strategies then,” Eills reported. “Moving forward, you’ll see more information coming before you.”

The Community Development Block Grant funding that supports the project will be expended by the end of December, she said, but some work will spill into early 2025.

Hanneman noted that the Town can designate zoning and code requirements for the area.

Council members anticipate reviewing and taking possible action this month on a draft Community Emergency Management Plan.

Councilmember Rick Dole, liaison to the Town’s emergency management commission, said the proposed CEMP is designed as “a living document.”

Emergency management commission chair Doug Asbe concurred.

“A list of annexes will be added to the CEMP as time goes on,” said Asbe.

Dole added that one more vacancy remains on the five-member advisory emergency management board.

“So please continue to beat the bushes,” Dole implored.

Planning Director Michael Davolio said the 306 Center Street multi-family proposal has stalled. The Town is awaiting a meeting with Skagit County officials and the project applicants concerning the dimensions of an elevator proposed for the three-story building. The council was told that while the elevator’s shaft complies with Town height restrictions, Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra is concerned it isn’t wide enough to accommodate a gurney.

“At this point,” Davolio said, “it’s in the applicant’s hands to decide what to do.”

Davolio further noted that proposed updates to the Town’s uniform development code, for which the council provided its preliminary approval, represents an effort “to be consistent with what the state has done.”

The council approved four separate service agreements, with Water and Wastewater Treatment Services, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Western Fireworks and Skagit County for senior services funding.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas said the 2025 municipal budget includes a 13% increase for the one-year pact with the sheriff’s office for increased labor costs.

“We actually budgeted higher than that,” said Thomas.

Thomas, Hanneman and Dole remarked that deputies have increased their presence in town with additional foot and vehicle patrols.

“We see them a lot,” Dole said.

Western Fireworks will again provide fireworks on July 4, but will explore less expensive options for 2026. For several years, the Town has paid for pyrotechnics while The Port of Skagit has sponsored live music, food and refreshments at La Conner Marina.

“We’ll discuss July Fourth with the Port,” Hanneman said, “and then review whether to come up with a different plan after next year.”