City Council - Regular Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING February 3, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Korthuis called to order the February 3, 2025 regular session of the Lynden City Council at 7:00 p.m. in the city council chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE ROLL CALL Members present: Councilors Gary Bode, Lee Beld, Gary Vis, Brent Lenssen, Brent Lenssen, Nick Laninga, Kyle Strengholt, and MarkWohlrab. Members absent: Councilors Bode and Lenssen absent with notice. Staff present: Community Development Director Heidi Gudde, Police Chief Steve Taylor, Public Works Director Jan Hutchings, City Clerk Pam Brown, and City Administrator John Williams. OATH OF OFFICE - None. SUMMARY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor Vis moved and Councilor Wohlrab seconded, to approve the January 21, 2025 regular council minutes. Motion approved on 5-0 vote. CITIZEN COMMENT - None. 2. CONSENT 3. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 25-1704, Amendment to LMC 19.23.110, Mixed-Use Provisions On January 21st Council opened the public hearing regarding Ordinance 25-1704 but tabled the public comment and discussion of the item until February 3rd, so that proper notice could be completed. Ordinance 25-1704 has been written to accomplish one revision to the city's small-scale mixed-use development regulations and to restore the portion of code which was inadvertently deleted in a previous amendment. The change to the code would apply to small-scale mixed-use proposals. This type of project may occur on properties with commercial zoning, are less than one acre in size, and are 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 3 CITYOFLYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING located within the Central or South Historic Business District Subareas. If found appropriate for the setting, the City Council may permit heights of over the current maximum of 32 feet through the Conditional Use Permit process. Commercial zoning typically allows heights of 48 feet, but the mixed-use provisions limit mixed-use buildings to 32 feet to be sensitive to the scale of existing neighborhoods in the Central and South Historic Business District. Mayor Korthuis opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. There were no in-person public comments. Mayor Korthuis closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Councilor Strengholt moved, and Councilor Vis seconded, to approve Ordinance 25- 1704 restoring a section of LMC 19.23.110 which was inadvertently deleted and to amend the small-scale mixed-use provisions to increase maximum building height through the Conditional use process. Motion approved on 5-0 vote. Ordinance 25-1705^Amendinfl LMC 10- Parking Reoulations The City Administration Department, in cooperation with Parks, Police, Public Works and Community Development Departments have been actively working on solutions for parking conflicts which have been occurring at the city parks. At times visitors park in ways that block driveways or park at city facilities overnight. It is critical that the city be prepared to address these issues ahead of the busy spring and summer weekends when parking conflicts are at their worst. In addition to city parks, the proposed amendment will address parking lots at city facilities such as City Hall and the Annex, city-owned lots, and public streets. The code amendment will be supported by the posting of signs and contracting with a towing company to enforce regulations when requested. The City's legal counsel has reviewed the submitted draft ordinance so this version includes their edits and differs slightly from the version distributed with the January 21st Council package. Mayor Korthuis opened the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. There were no comments. Mayor Korthuis closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Councilor Strengholt moved, and Councilor Vis seconded, to approve Ordinance 25- 1705, amending LMC 10 to update the City's parking regulations and to authorize the Mayor's signature on the document. Motion approved on 5-0 vote. 300 41" Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 3 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS - None 6. REPORTS 2025 Property Tax Levy Information CouncilorVis notified council that he will be absent for the March 17, 2025 council meeting, the meeting that has been scheduled to address the fluoride issue. He asks that council proceed with business and to not postpone based on his absence. February 27, 2025 has been selected as the date for the council retreat. The meeting will begin at 12 noon, lunch will be provided. Councilor Beld requests that administration provide an estimate of the costs incurred by the city by posting audio recordings of the council meetings to the city's website. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION Council did not hold an executive session. 8. ADJOURNMENT February 3, 2025 regular session of the Lynden city council adjourned at 7:20 p.m. tjLmdoL 0 g^ai2Q LA*-} Pamela Brown, City Clerk Scott Korthuis, Mayor 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 3