City Council - Regular Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING October 16, 2023 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Korthuis called to order the October 16, 2023 regular session of the Lynden City Council at 7:00 p.m. in the city's council chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE ROLL CALL Members present: Councilors Gary Bode, Ron De Valois, Gerald Kuiken, Brent Lenssen,and Mark Wohlrab. Members absent: Councilors Laninga and Strengholt absent with notice. Staff present: Community Dev. & Planning Director Heidi Gudde, Finance Director Anthony Burrows, Fire Chief Mark Billmire, HR Resources Director Kari Heeringa, Police Chief Steve Taylor, Public Works Director Jan Hutchings, City Clerk Pam Brown, City Administrator John Williams, and City Attorney Bob Carmichael. OATH OF OFFICE-None. SUMMARY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Briahna Murray - Legislative Update • 2023-2024 (two-year cycle. • 2024 session begins January 8th and ends on March 7th (non-budget year). • All members of the House of Representatives and half the members of the State Senate are up for re-election. • The State is currently out of compliance with the Trueblood settlement. A significant amount of resources into behavioral health system is required for the State to come into compliance. • Cap and Trade System (2021) is generating more revenue than initially forecasted. The legislature is considering making policy plans for how the funding will be allocated. • The current bidding environment that is causing projects to come in much higher than initially allocated. Many of which are transportation projects. Ms. Murray reviewed the city's draft legislation agenda which is included in the official council file. 300 41" Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor De Valois moved, and Councilor Wohlrab seconded to approve the October 2, 2023, regular council meeting minutes. Motion approved on 5-0 vote. CITIZEN COMMENT Cynthia Ripke-Kutsagoitz, Guide Meridian, Lvnden • Spoke in favor of the Lynden Music festival. • Concern with border security. • Expressed support of Israel and its people. Spoke in opposition of adding fluoride to the city's water supply. Mary Lou Childs, Benson Rd, Lynden Betty Vandyken, Pangborn Rd, Lynden Robert Taylor, Golf View Drive, Lynden Kush Brar, Elm Street, Lynden Becky Taylor, Golf View Drive, Lynden Elisha Wyatt, Brookfield Court, Lynden Spoke in favor of adding fluoride to the city's water supply. Lynnette Ondeck, Lakeway Drive, Bellingham Emily Furman, Seattle Grant McCleland, Aaron Drive, Lynden Seth Swanson, Roma Drive, Bellingham Jonathan Henry, South BC Avenue, Lynden Michael Barrett, Greenfield Lane, Lynden 2. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Claims - October 3,2023 Manual Warrants No. through $0.00 EFT Payment Pre-Pays $0.00 Sub Total Pre-Pays $0.00 Voucher Warrants No. 28441 throucih 28534 $387,653.26 EFT Payments $1,831,008.04 Sub Total $2,218,661.30 Total Accounts Payable $2,218,661.30 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Approval of Claims - October 18,2023 Manual Warrants No. through $0.00 EFT Payment Pre-Pays $0.00 Sub Total Pre-Pays $0.00 Voucher Warrants No. 28565 through 28658 $907,247.92 EFT Payments $13,243.17 Sub Total $920,491.09 Total Accounts Payable $920,491.09 Payroll Liability to September 24 throughDctobeLl, 2023 EFT & Other Liabilities Non-L&l Liabilities Monthly EFT......................................................................................................$549,915.38 Check Liability...............................................................................................................$0.00 Total Non-L&l Liabilities.....................................................................................$549,915.38 Quarterly Liabilities ..............................................................................................$13,050.39 Total EFT & Other Liabilities $562,965.77 Payroll Liability to October 8 through October 21, 2023 EFT & Other Liabilities Non-L&l Liabilities Monthly EFT......................................................................................................$422,000.36 Check Liability...............................................................................................................$0.00 Total Non-L&l Liabilities.....................................................................................$422,000.36 Quarterly Liabilities ..............................................................................................$12,940.93 Total EFT & Other Liabilities $434,941.29 Motion made by Councilor Kuiken, seconded by Councilor Bode to approve Consent Agenda. Motion approved 5-0. 3. PUBLIC HEARING - None 300 4"' Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Notification Plan for Discontinuation of Fluoride in City's Water Supply - Set Public Hearina At the September 18, 2023, city council meeting, a motion was passed to "direct city staff to: Develop a schedule, public notice strategy, and date for public hearing before the city council, consistent with state law, on the question of whether the City should consider discontinuing fluoridization of the city's municipal water supply." The council packet contains the information necessary to meet the requirements of HB 1251 that went into law July of 2023 requiring a minimum of 90-days' notice for a public hearing. Motion made by Councilor Bode to set the public hearing for February 20, 2024 concerning the discontinuation offluoride in the city of Lynden's water supply. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Motion made by Councilor Lenssen to table the issue until the January 2, 2024 council meeting when the new council members are seated, seconded by Councilor De Valois. Motion approved 5-0. Councilor Lenssen asked staff for clarification on the signs concerning the fluoride /ssue that have been posted around Lynden. Director Gudde discussed what the LMC currently says about signs. Gary Vis, Chamber Director suggested that the signs remain posted until the date of the public hearing set to consider the fluoride matter. 5. NEW BUSINESS Introduction of the 2024 Preliminary Budget and the Mayor's Budget Message The Mayor will read his 2024 Budget message to the Council and present the Council with a copy of this message and the 2024 Preliminary Budget. All supporting documentation will be provided at the time of the meeting. Mayor Korthuis stated that the mayor's budget letter will not be read aloud but will be included in the official council file. 6. REPORTS Councilor Bode, Public Works Committee, reported discussion of the following: • Downtown area parking issues. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 4 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING • Lead line inventory requested by EPA. • Evergreen Street parking problems. Gary Vis, Chamber Director • Downtown parking issues, residential parking, and parking enforcement. Councilor De Valois, Parks Committee, reported discussion of the following: • SHKS work on the Benson barn has not progressed, the city is considering dropping that project. That barn is currently used for storage. • Schoolyard Park awaiting architectural plans. A water meter is ready to be installed. • Trail project is moving forward, awaiting VanderGriend Lumber signature. • Developing a dog park at Patterson Park. • Bender shop office extension plans. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION The council did not hold an executive session. 8. ADJOURNMENT October 16, 2023, regular session of the Lynden city council adjourned at 8:20 p.m. ^mAt A Pamela D. Brown, City'Clerk Scott Korthuis7 Mayor 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 5 of 5