City Council Committee of the Whole

CITY OF DUVALL CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES January 9, 2014 – 6:00 p.m. Duvall Fire Station – 15600 – 1st Avenue NE Mayor Pro Tem Walker called the meeting order at 6:05 p.m. Council present: Dianne Brudnicki, Leroy Collinwood, Becky Nixon, Gary Gill, Amy Ockerlander, Jason Walker (absent: Scott Thomas) Staff present: Steve Leniszewski, Jill Long, City Attorney Rachel Turpin, Jodee Schwinn Waste Reduction & Recycle Grant and Local Hazardous Waste Management Grant – Steve Leniszewski Public Works Director Steve Leniszewski introduced the two 2014 King County Recycling Grants. He explained as in years past, these two grants are for recycling programs and both grants are fully reimbursable grants meaning that there is no cost to the City after all reimbursement requests have been submitted to the County and paid. On-Call Consulting Contracts for 2014 – Steve Leniszewski Steve explained that the On-Call Consulting Contracts are brought forward for approval at the beginning of each year so that there will be contracts signed and in place ready to go for the various consulting services that may be needed for various projects throughout the year. Council confirmed that they would like to have all contracts, including On-Call Consulting Contracts, reviewed during a Committee of the Whole Workshop, then brought forward at a regular Council Meeting as an introduction under New Business. After it has been introduced under New Business, the item will then be brought back at the following regular City Council Meeting for action and approval either under Unfinished Business or on the Consent Agenda. It will be determined if the action will take place under the Consent Agenda or Unfinished Business at the time the item is brought forward for introduction during New Business. Mayor Pro Tem Walker said that he will work to formalize these approval procedures to keep business moving forward as best as it can. The 2014 On-Call Contracts will be moved from the Consent Agenda and placed under New Business for introduction at the regular Council Meeting that will follow this COW Workshop. Employment Agreement with Kass Holdeman for the Community Coordinator position – Steve Leniszewski Steve explained that although this position has already been budgeted and approved in the 2014 adopted City of Duvall Budget, because it is a position that is hired contractually and the total Committee of the Whole – January 9, 2014 annual amount is above the Mayor’s signing authority, it must also come before the City Council for approval. Mayor Pro Tem Walker emphasized that during the previous Council and Budget Workshops there was discussion of sponsorships and off-setting costs, but at no time was there any agreement or consensus to make this position or the City and Duvall Cultural Commission events revenue neutral. Steve assured Council that Kass is aware of Council’s desire to see more sponsorships and donations to help fund the various community events. Mayor Ibershof said that Kass is already working on increasing sponsorships for the 2014 community events. They will also be looking into what the economic value is in putting on these events, aside from the community value that it brings. Steve said there are some national standards and numbers available to assess the economic value of certain community events. He hopes to have something to provide to Council prior to the budget season this year. City Council discussion on the Council Retreat & Council Workshop Items of Discussion. – Mayor Pro Tem Jason Walker Mayor Pro Tem Walker reminded everyone the City Council Retreat date has been set for Saturday, February 1st. He distributed a list of City Council Retreat Survey Results and the Priority List from 2013, along with a list of potential Council Retreat topics and future Council Workshop topics. He said that this is to provide something for Council to think about when considering workshop and budget topics. Some of the items on the list are opportunities and other items are requests that have been brought up. He shared the tentative agenda for the Council Retreat. The City’s Financial Planner, Jim Nelson, is scheduled to come in the morning and lead a discussion on financing options and strategies for funding various City projects. Mayor Pro Tem Walker asked Council to feel free to add any other topics or issues at hand that they may want to see additional consideration and future discussion on. Whoever is elected as Mayor Pro Tem at the Council Meeting immediately following the COW Workshop will finalize the Council Retreat Agenda and send it out to the Councilmembers and staff. King County Fire District #45 Property Tax Refund – Jill Long, City Finance Director Jill Long, City Finance Director, explained that the she received a last minute notice from the King County Property Tax Division. They provided the City with a new worksheet and informed her that the City is eligible to receive additional property tax revenue. This will be an automatic increase in revenue to the City, unless the City takes official action and declines to take it. The County is still finalizing their property tax levies and will need to know right away what the City decides to do. Because of the many Special Purpose Districts, the City has been limited to 1.6% of the assessed value for many years. One of the other levy jurisdictions, King County Fire District #45, is not going to levy to their maximum, so the City automatically receives that property tax revenue, up to the allowable property tax amount. This would result in the City receiving approximately $40,000 in additional property tax revenue next year. Committee of the Whole – January 9, 2014 This item will be brought up for further explanation and discussion at the regular City Council Meeting following the Committee of the Whole Workshop. Adjournment The Committee of the Whole adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ATTEST: Jason Walker, Mayor Pro Tem Jodee Schwinn, City Clerk Committee of the Whole – January 9, 2014