Chelan Council hears cryptocurrency control plan

CHELAN – With an agenda involving proclamations, motions and a public hearing, Council and Staff convened for their regular council meeting, Tuesday, April 10 at City Hall.
Initiating the night’s agenda, Mayor Mike Cooney made a point to acknowledge the presence of the Chelan Parks’ board members. “We want to make sure that you guys get recognized,” he began, “thank you for serving, there’s a disconnect a little bit between the city council and the volunteer boards, and we wanted to make sure that you were recognized and thanked for the efforts that you do. As you continue on, make sure that you’re a strong voice to the council.” Newly appointed to the Parks’ Board was Jane Lloyd. Planning commission also had changes to its board, which was acknowledged during the meeting as well. Realtor Guy Evans will be taking the place of Myrt Griffith. “I do think it’s a sign of a healthy city government that we are getting multiple people (submitting applications for open board positions),” expressed Mayor Cooney, as he extended a welcome to Evans.
Two proclamations were made during the meeting. The first, Arbor Day, was read by Parks Director Karen Sargeant. Arbor Day, which was established in 1872 by Sterling Morton, designates that “a special day be set aside for the planting of trees,” as stated in the City of Chelan Arbor Day Proclamation. Mayor cooney proclaimed Thursday, April 26 as Arbor Day in Chelan, adding “I urge all citizens to plant and care for trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.” Before concluding the topic, Sargeant added a comment made by Arbor Day Founder, Sterling Morton, “one of the things he said is ‘most holidays are remembering the past, Arbor Day celebrates the future,’” she stated with appreciation.
The next proclamation was that for Mother Earth. Mayor Cooney proclaimed Sunday, April 22 as Earth Day, the day that it has been celebrated on since its creation in 1970. “I clearly remember in 1970, I was a freshman,” said Cooney, “and there was this big hoopla about Earth Day … but I do remember clearly that 22 million people were protesting in defense of Mother Earth, and I thought that was so cool.” He went on speaking on his support and admiration for the day, but also for the founder, Gaylor Nelson. Nelson was a conservationist, “but he was also a very strong consumer advocate,” he explained, then later added, “he was a strong civil rights and civil liberties supporter and was an early outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War. Through the watching of the Vietnam War protests,” he stated on Nelson’s early motivations, “he thought the same thing could be done for Mother Earth.” Then, voicing to the audience, staff and council members, he shared, “the thing that struck me as the biggest factor out of all of this, was that in 1970, there was no contentious argument on this,” he expressed, “the rich and the poor. The Republicans and Democrats. Farmers, business tycoons, they all got together and passed the Earth Day proclamation … I would challenge our current national to get that same cohesive thing working together.”
Moving into agenda items was Planning Director Craig Gildroy with a public hearing on cryptocurrency mining operations interim zoning controls. Currently, the City of Chelan, as well as Chelan County, has a moratorium on the harvesting of the digital currency. Moratoriums are traditionally in place for six months, he explained, but if a work plan is in place then can be extended to one year. After which the moratorium can be extended for another six months after holding a public hearing. “The 2018 comp plan amendment document does include planning commission for review and recommendation on cryptocurrency data mining on the high-density load cases through city council to a public input process,” he explained.  “On February 13, 2018, (prompted by an immediate moratorium request on cryptocurrency by Councilmember Allen) Council adopted an interim zoning control relating to cryptocurrency mining operations in the City of Chelan.” The City plans to develop a work plan for HDL and cryptocurrency mining during the annual Comprehensive Plan amendment process later in the year,” he explained, “staff will prepare the findings of fact into an ordinance which will be presented for adoption at the April 24, 2018 Council meeting.” Ordinance 2018-1537 explains the moratorium in detail, highlighting the 2018 Comprehensive Plan’s Amendment docket which “includes a Cryptocurrency and High-Energy Users Amendment item, the purpose of which is to establish a long-term strategy of cryptocurrency and high-energy users in the City,” then states “Planning Commission, with the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Amendment process, will endeavor on revising the Comprehensive plan in regards to “Cryptocurrency mining” and HDL policies and potential zoning amendments.”
Also included in the evening’s agenda were the follow motion considerations. All motions were approved by Council:
Consideration on Chelan Municipal Code Chapter 8.20 Garbage/Refuse Ordinance. The ordinance was represented to the Council after amendments and revisions to the original copy.
Request for a services agreement with Forte Architects in the Parks’ maintenance building and RV park restroom construction and remodel projections.
Request for a professional services agreement with Central Services, Inc. for the Sikes Property Brush Debris Grinding.
Concluding the agenda items was a motion consideration by City Attorney Quentin Batjer. After discussions with the Washington Apple Commission on the trademark or copywriting of the apple logo, which is currently in use as Chelan’s logo, he recommended the finalization and executions of “the assignment of Copyright and License,” as stated in the suggested motion. The Washington Apple Commission will continue to allow the City to use the apple, leaf and banner logo, essentially at the City’s discretion, but copyright would belong to the Commission, as they believe it to be their intellectual property. Council members approved the motion.
For more information on agenda items, including full information on motion considerations, agenda bills or ordinances, visit the Civic Web Council Portal on the City of Chelan’s homepage, cityofchelan.us.
City council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The next scheduled meeting will take place Tuesday, April 24.