Workshop/Regular Council Meeting/Public Hearing of Preliminary 2025 Budget

MEETING MINUTES FOR WORKSHOP, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AND PRELIMINARY 2025 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING Fire Hall - 111 D Street November 20th, 2024, at 6:00 PM BUDGET WORKSHOP Scott Boettcher gave a presentation for the Chehalis Flood Authority. Grays Harbor Conservation District was unable to attend this meeting. Roger Swalander spoke about the upcoming rate increases for our Lemay Enterprises Contract. FLAG SALUTE - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL Mayor Springer calls the meeting to order, and Clerk Barr takes Roll Call. PRESENT: Councilmember Kim Skinner, Councilmember Jeremy Winn, Councilmember Justin Spargo, Councilmember Mark Collett, Councilmember Sue Darcy. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Spargo motioned to approve the agenda, and Councilmember Skinner seconded. Motion passed unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Skinner motioned to approve the consent agenda, and Councilmember Collett seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Page 1 of 3 COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Winn reminded Citizens of the tree lighting ceremony coming up on Sunday December 8th around 5pm. Councilmember Spargo states the Parks and Cemetery meeting is cancelled due to the Holidays and they will reconvene next month. COMMITTEE REPORTS Auditing – No report. Finance – No report. Parks – No report. Public Safety – Councilmember Collett states there was a meeting last Monday. Councilmember Skinner says they are wanting to continue the pilot program of resident Firemen. They will have an updated proposal for the residents’ stipend at the next Council Meeting. Public Works – No report. CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Clerk/Treasurer – Clerk Barr gives update on current Audit. Police Chief Report – Chief Layman wanted to thank the Cosmopolis Elementary School for allowing him to use the scissor lift to do some repairs. The police will be at the Career Day Event at the school later this week. The Chief gave a brief statement about working with cameras to help catch criminals/missing persons potentially. Fire Chief Report – Chief Falley was not present, no report. Building Inspector – Bill Sidor has a preliminary miscellaneous fee schedule he has been writing up and working on. The Variance hearing they had earlier today has passed. He’s continuing to work on code violation calls and sending out notices as needed. MAYOR'S REPORT – Mayor Springer thanks her staff for all their hard work. NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION 1. Public Hearing for 2025 Budget corrections. Tara Dunford corrected 2 items in preliminary budget. No public comments. 2. Tara Dunford did the second reading of Ordinance 1395 – Property Tax Levy 2025. Action will be taken later in the meeting. Councilmember Spargo asked what difference a 0% change would make, Tara answered $222 for the General Fund total. 3. Tara Dunford did the first reading of Ordinance 1396 for 2025 Budget. Page 2 of 3  Councilmember Winn asks if anything has been found out about the Local Improvement District Fund, no findings to date. Councilmember Darcy asked what the impact could be on the budget with the water/sewer contract still being undecided. Tara advised if money to be paid to Aberdeen is more than $470K there will need to be an amendment made. If it is less than $470K then no changes need to be made to the billing. Councilmember Darcy had a few other questions on budget items that Tara Dunford answered. 4. Tara Dunford did the first reading of Ordinance 1397 for the 2024 Budget Amendment’s to be made. Councilmember Winn wanted to know if this amendment was being made to the new preliminary budget or to the 2024 budget. Tara Dunford confirmed this was for 2024 Budget. PUBLIC COMMENTS – No comments. NEW BUSINESS – COUNCIL ACTION Councilmember Winn motioned to approve Ordinance 1395 establishing regular property tax levy increase for 2025, Councilmember Skinner seconded the motion. Clerk Barr took a roll call vote: Councilmember Winn – Yea Councilmember Spargo – Yea Councilmember Collett – Yea Councilmember Darcy - No Councilmember Skinner – Yea Motion passed with four “Yea’s” and one “No” PUBLIC COMMENTS - One citizen is wondering about the New Municipal Building. Another citizen comments that it would be nice to have a question-and-answer time during these meetings. COUNCIL COMMENTS - Councilmember Winn makes comment regarding the question-and-answer time requested. Councilmember Spargo thanks the presenters for coming out and thanks Frank Chestnut for all he has done for the city. Councilmembers wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Councilmember Spargo motioned to Adjourn, Seconded by Councilmember Collett. Meeting Adjourned at 7:33 PM Page 3 of 3