City Council

CITY OF BURLINGTON, WA November 09, 2021 Mayor Steve Sexton called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members present: Bill Aslett, Keith Chaplin, Joe DeGloria, Rick DeGloria, Scott Green, Chris Loving, and James Stavig. Staff present: Janice Burwash, Don Erikson, Geoff Hawes, Leif Johnson, Mike Luvera, Kristen Morrison, Katie Olafson, Marv Pulst, Jim Rabenstein, Travis Schwetz, Joe Stewart, Sarah Ward, and Greg Young. MINUTES: A motion was made by Councilors Green/Aslett to approve the minutes of the October 14, 2021, and the October 28, 2021, City Council meetings. All in favor; motion carried. AUDIT OF BILLS: A motion was made by Councilors Loving/Green to approve Accounts Payable invoices to be paid as of November 9, 2021, in the amount of $549,615.38 and Payroll Expenses for Pay Period ending October 31, 2021, in the amount of $537,004.18. All in favor; motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENTS: A representative for the Skagit County YMCA spoke to Council about the Anchor Community Initiative Office of Homeless Youth program and the Oasis Teen Center seeing a need for additional and more supportive services due to an increase in behavioral health issues. City Attorney Leif Johnson stated that members of the public may submit comments or questions by mail to City Hall at 833 S. Spruce Street, ATTN: Greg Young, or by email to badministration@burlingtonwa.gov. Contact information for all the City Departments is available at www.burlingtonwa.gov. COUNCIL COMMENTS: No Council Comments. MAYOR’S UPDATE: No Mayor’s Update. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: No Special Presentations. PROCLAMATION: No Proclamation. COMMITTEE & BOARD REPORTS: Councilor Keith Chaplin gave a brief update of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. Topics of discussion included, dog park development process and a robust conversation about renovations needed at the Parks and Recreation and Community Center building. Councilor James Stavig suggested Council members take a tour of the buildings to and hear needs and concerns from staff for renovations. 1  CITY OF BURLINGTON, WA November 09, 2021 OFFICERS REPORTS: Police Chief Mike Luvera shared a few updates from the Police Department, including an overwhelmingly popular Trunk-or-Treat event and purchasing new body cam equipment. Training for the new equipment will take place within the next three weeks. Once the staff is well trained, a presentation will be brought to Council to explain the bodycam equipment in greater detail. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: No Unfinished Business. CONSENT AGENDA Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and Burlington Police Employees Guild Representing Support Personnel for 2022 through 2024 A motion was made by Councilors Loving/Aslett to approve Consent Agenda item #1 and authorize the Mayor’s signature on the agreement. All in favor; motion carried. Veterans Day Parade November 13, 2021 A motion was made by Councilors Loving/Aslett to approve Consent Agenda item #2 and authorize the Mayor’s signature on the agreement. All in favor; motion carried. Appointment of Cori Peck to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board A motion was made by Councilors Loving/Aslett to approve Consent Agenda item #3 and authorize the Mayor’s signature on the agreement. All in favor; motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Public Hearing on Proposed 2022 (Draft) Budget Finance Director Joe Stewart explained Washington State Law requires a Public Hearing on the annual budget in order to ensure any taxpayer has an opportunity to appear and be heard for or against and part of the budget. In total, three hearings are required. A revenue hearing, a preliminary hearing, and a final hearing. This is the preliminary hearing. Mayor Sexton opened the public hearing. A motion was made by Councilors Green/Chaplin to close the public hearing. All in favor; motion carried. Well Drilling to Support Interruptible Water Right for Skagit River Park City Administrator Greg Young stated, to further the development of a robust and sustainable irrigation strategy for Skagit River Park (SRP), we have been working with RH@ to apply for an interruptible water right from the Department of Ecology (DOE). The current direction is to apply to DOE for three (3) wells within SRP- one up in the northern portion of the park to service the East Field, one further south to irrigate the West Fields, and one in the center. All these wells would be located immediately 2  CITY OF BURLINGTON, WA November 09, 2021 adjacent to the dike. RH2 is currently seeking approval from DOE for these wells. Once drilled, we would conduct well pump tests to determine how pumping will affect the water table and the associated “recharge rate” (the time it takes for the water in the well requires a return to its pre-pumping level). This information is critical since the DOE permit will require the city to stop pumping when the Skagit River approaches Low Flow in the summer. The flow testing will determine the exact limitations of our Interruptible Water Right. That is when each summer the city would need to stop using the wells. With RH@ currently working with DOE on permitting the wells, staff would like authority to solicit bids for the three wells. Councilor Keith Chaplin spoke in favor of moving forward with this project and expressed his enthusiasm to the staff for the work put in to make this a possibility. Councilor Joe DeGloria asked if there will be any flexibility in this process. Young shared there will be many opportunities for analysis and course correction during the process. Parks Supervisor Jim Rabenstein explained there are specific places where wells can be drilled. A brief discussion was held amongst Council and staff. A motion was made by Councilors Chaplin/Stavig to authorize the solicitation of bids for three wells to be drilled in Skagit River Park. All in favor; motion carried. EXECUTIVE SESSION: City Attorney Leif Johnson stated that there will be an executive session held pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. Johnson stated the session will likely last twenty minutes, with no action expected action at the end of the executive session. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Sexton adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. ________________ _________________ Joe Stewart Steve Sexton Finance Director Mayor 3