City Council - Regular Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING February 20, 2024 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Korthuis called to order the February 20, 2024 regular session of the Lynden City Council at 7:00 p.m. in the city's council chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE OATH OF OFFICE ROLL CALL Members present: Councilors Gary Bode, Gary Vis, Brent Lenssen, Nick Laninga, Kyle Strengholt, and Mark Wohlrab. Members absent: Councilor Beld absent with notice. Staff present: Fire Chief Mark Billmire, Police Chief Steve Taylor, Public Works Director Jon Hutchings, and City Clerk Pam Brown. SUMMARY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS - None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor Vis moved, and Councilor Strengholt seconded, to approve the January 29, 2024 Work Session minutes, the February 5, 2024 Regular Council minutes, and the February 8, 2024 Joint Work Session with Lynden School Board and Regional Parks and Recreation District minutes (with one noted correction to the council members in attendance at the joint meeting). Motion approved on 6-0 vote. CITIZEN COMMENT Cynthia Ripke-Kutsaooitz, Guide Meridian, Lvnden • Presidents Day • Invitation to Council to May 5th Pro Life Conference at Saint Joseph's • Protection of state property rights Mikal Nichols, Andres Lane, Lynden Mr. Nichols provided a summary of his alleged victimization by city of Lynden officials and police officers. 300 411' Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 4  CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING 2. CONSENT AGENDA Payroll Liability to January 14 through January 27, 2024 EFT & Other Liabilities Non-L&l Liabilities Monthly EFT......................................................................................................$500,416.18 Check Liability...............................................................................................................$0.00 Total Non-L&l Liabilities.....................................................................................$500,416.18 Quarterly Liabilities..............................................................................................$13,444.27 Total EFT & Other Liabilities $603,860.45 Payroll Liability to January 28 through February 10, 2024 EFT & Other Liabilities Non-L&l Liabilities Monthly EFT......................................................................................................$430,041.32 Check Liability...............................................................................................................$0.00 Total Non-L&l Liabilities.....................................................................................$430,041.32 Quarterly Liabilities ..............................................................................................$13,302.93 Total EFT & Other Liabilities $443,344.28 Approval of Claims - February 6,2024 Manual Warrants No. through $0.00 EFT Payment Pre-Pays $0.00 Sub Total $0.00 Pre-Pays Voucher Warrants No. 29269 through 29396 $511,696.35 EFT Payments $789,458.24 Sub Total $1,301,154.59 Total Accts. $1,301,154.59 Payable Approval of Claims - February 21,2024 Manual Warrants No. through $0.00 EFT Payment Pre-Pays $0.00 Sub Total $0.00 Pre-Pays Voucher Warrants No. 29410 through 29518 $711,105.75 EFT Payments $82,200.52 Sub Total $793,306.27 Total Accts. $793,306.27 Payable 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 4 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Motion made by Councilor Bode, seconded by Councilor Strengholt to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion approved 6-0. 3. PUBLIC HEARING - None. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS-None. 5. NEW BUSINESS Amendment with the Department of Commerce for Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update Grant Funds - this item was not on the agenda. The State of Washington has awarded the City of Lynden a grant of $125,000 to aid in the update of the Comprehensive Plan. The funds will be administered by the Department of Commerce (DOC) over the next 18 months with the goal of completing the Plan update by the close of June 2025. The contract includes an outline of the city's required deliverables and timeline. Approximately $41,000 of the grant funding will be utilized for work items shared with Whatcom County and other municipalities within the County. The Planning Division is reviewing proposals from consultants who will be able to assist staff in the community outreach and Comprehensive Plan update. A draft of this document was reviewed with the CDC at the January 10 meeting and is now seeking Council approval in its final form. Motion made by Councilor Lenssen, seconded by Councilor Strengholt to approve the Interagency Agreement identified as Contract No. 24-63335-056 with the Department of Commerce's Growth Management Services to receive grant funding for the periodic update to the City of Lynden Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Motion approved 6-0. Aflreement with the Department of Commerce for Climate Planning Grant Funds- this item was not on the agenda. The State of Washington has awarded the City of Lynden a grant to add a Climate Planning element to the City's comprehensive plan as required by recent state legislation. The grant, which is administered by the Department of Commerce, totals $500,000. This is in addition to another $125,000 grant for the general periodic update comprehensive 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 4 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING plan. Some of these funds have been allocated to be used over the next 18 months for planning actions. Remaining funds have been requested to be transferred to implementation strategies beyond the Comp Plan deadline of June of 2025. The contract includes an outline of the city's required deliverables and timeline. While final details of the contract were resolved, planning staff has solicitated proposals from consultants who can assist in these planning efforts. Proposals are currently under review with consultant selection and scope review slated for the end of February and into March. A draft of this document was reviewed with the CDC at the January 10 meeting and is now seeking Council approval in its final form. Motion made by Councilor Lenssen, seconded by Councilor Strengholt to approve the Interagency Agreement identified as Contract No. 24-63610-137 with the Department of Commerce's Growth Management Services to receive grant funding for the required addition of a Climate Planning Element to the City ofLynden Comprehensive Plan. Motion approved 6-0. 6. REPORTS Councilor Strengholt reported Finance Committee discussion on the following: • Review of payroll and claims. • Review of overtime hours. • Review of sale tax which remains strong. • Review of monthly financial statements. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Council did not hold an executive session. 8. ADJOURNMENT February 20, 2024 regular session of the Lynden city council adjourned at 7:20 p.m. ''RlmVLHP^n !A*At- /^iA-t^.u^. Pamela D. Brown, City Clerk Scott Korthuis, Mayor 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 4 of 4