City Council - Regular Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING April 21, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Scott Korthuis called to order the April 7, 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, Nick Laninga, Kyle Strengholt and Mark Wohlrab. Staff present: Fire Chief Mike Noonan, Human Resources Director Kari Heeringa, Parks Director Brent DeRuyter, Police Chief Steve Taylor, Public Works Director Jon Hutchings, City Clerk Pam Brown, City Administrator John Williams, and City Attorney Bob Carmichael. OATH OF OFFICE - Corporal Tanner Holland promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Officer Jarren VanLoo promoted to the rank of Corporal. SUMMARY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Lynden Christian School Superintendent Leonard Fakkema spoke before council about the importance of providing security in schools. He asked council to consider the possibility of providing a Lynden police officer to act as a School Resource Officer for Lynden Christian School. He also stated that Lynden Christian is actively raising funds and is willing to provide financial resources and partially fund an officer for school security. Lynden School District Superintendent David VanderYacht also spoke before council and expressed their need for security for the Lynden School District's multiple campuses. The school board is considering a couple of options but the decision has not yet been determined. Councilor Vis asked council members to consider the information provided and speak with members of the Public Safety committee. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor Vis moved and Councilor Beld seconded, to approve the April 7, 2025 regular council minutes. Motion approved on 7-0 vote. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING CITIZEN COMMENT Cynthia Ripke-Kutsagoitz, Lynden, provided comments on miscellaneous items concerning public safety, taxes, and citizen input. Marian Kredit, Lynden, commented on the continuing work being done on the Schoolyard Park and asked that council provide some input on the type of equipment and style of splash part that they want installed. 2. CONSENT Resolution 25-1116 Request to Cancel Checks 32183 and 32227 Reichhardt and Ebe Engineering - 1st and Graver Feasibility Study This item pulled from Consent Agenda for further discussion as requested by Councilor Laninga. Surplus 2010 E450 Ambulance A7503 The 2010 Ford E-450 Ambulance (A7503) has reached the end of its useful life for City purposes. The Fire Department obtained Public Safety support to surplus the Ambulance during Public Safety Committee on January 9,2025. The Finance Committee reviewed this recommendation earlier today on April 21st . The estimated fair market value of the ambulance is $13,333. The City's surplus policy requires a council majority vote approval prior to disposal of surplus assets estimated to be over $10,000. The Fire departments consulted with other fire districts locally, but did not find an interested parties. The Finance Department recommendation for method of disposal is • Post in the Tribune to accept bids - there is often a private market for used ambulances to transfer them into work vehicles or RVs. • Should no bids be received, send the ambulance to a local auction company on consignment. Councilor Strengholt moved and Councilor Wohlrab seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion approved on 7-0 vote. Reichhardt and Ebe Engineering - 1st and Graver Feasibility Study Reichhardt & Ebe Engineering shall provide professional services for the Feasibility Study for the 1st and Graver Street Intersection. The design work will consist of feasibility, Right-of-Way requirements, and the approximate cost associated with adding a dedicated left turn lane to the north leg of the intersection. The contract cost shall not exceed $49,879.81. The Public Works Committee reviewed the agreement at their meeting on April 2, 2025, and recommended forwarding to City Council for approval. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Councilor Vis moved and Councilor Strengholt seconded, to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Reichhardt and Ebe Engineering, Inc., for the feasibility study of 1st and Grover Street intersection in the amount not to exceed $49,879.81 and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement. Motion approved on 7-0 vote. 3. PUBLIC HEARING - None 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ordinance 25-1709 Regarding Fluoridation of the City's Water Supply At the October 7, 2024, council meeting a motion was made to direct staff to draft an ordinance to repeal LMC 13.04.440 (Fluoridation Authorized) and Ordinance No. 371 (1959) regarding adding fluoride to the city's water supply. Staff then submitted notice to all municipal water customers, the Department of Health, and posted the notice to media and on the city webpage. This notice period meets and exceeds the required 90-day posting. The ordinance was postponed to the April 21, 2025 meeting so that all council members could be present. Various members of Council offered their viewpoint concerning Ordinance 25-1709. Councilor Vis moved and Councilor Lenssen seconded to bring the question offluoride to the voters in the November election and ask staff to prepare the paperwork to submit to the county auditor. Motion failed 3-4. Councilors Bode, Beld, Laninga and Strengholt voted opposed. Kahlin Mish, Lynden, spoke in opposition to Ordinance 25-1709. Councilor Bode moved and Councilor Strengholt seconded to adopt Ordinance 25- 1709. Motion approved 5-2 with Councilors Vis and Lenssen opposed. 5. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 25-1119 - Reiectina all Bids for Stage 2 Prep - Wastewater Treatment Plant Demolition Project - 777/s Item Pulled from Agenda. The City solicited for bids for the Stage 2 Prep - Wastewater Treatment Plant Demolition Project. Four bids were received and opened on March 19, 2025, and Boss Construction was announced as the apparent low bidder. The bids were reviewed for accuracy, responsiveness, and responsibility by the City's engineer and the City's Attorney. It is determined that none of the bidders satisfied the required supplemental bidder responsibility criteria, and the City 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING intends to exercise the right to reject all bids. The City intends to revise the bidder supplemental criteria and re-bid the project. The Public Works Committee reviewed the City Attorney recommendation and the Resolution during their April 16, 2025 meeting, and supported forwarding to City Council for approval Declinina TIB Grant Awards The City sought grant funding through the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for: Schoolyard Park Complete Streets - Estimated project cost $752,000 for pedestrian improvements on Glenning Street, between BC Avenue and 8th Street. TIB awarded $500,000. The remaining local match of $252,000 was proposed to be paid from the City Transportation Benefit District (TBD) fund. W Main Berthusen Roundabout - Estimated project cost $6,000,000 for intersection improvements. The City was awarded $1,200,000 in grant funds from TIB together with a $4,500,000 Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) loan. The remaining local match of $300,000 and $307,083 in annual CERB loan repayments (17 years) were proposed to be paid from the City TBD fund. The Public Works Committee reviewed these project budgets and being concerned with the burden on the TBD fund, does not believe it is responsible to proceed with these projects at this time. TIB notified the City that these funds cannot be reallocated to another project or allow for a change in scope of the current projects; therefore, the Committee's recommendation is to respectfully decline the funds. CouncilorBode moved and CouncilorLaninga seconded, to decline the Transportation Improvement Board Grant Awards for Schoolyard Park and W. Main Berthusen Roundabout projects. Motion approved on 7-0 vote. 6. REPORTS Councilor Bode reviewed the draft April 2, 2025 Public Works committee meeting minutes. Councilor Wohlrab reviewed the following items discussed at the Public Safety committee meeting: • Ladder truck received - Push In/Hose Coupling ceremony occurred before the night's council meeting. • Police department promotions for Tanner and VanLoo. • School Resource Officers and possible funding options. • Chief Taylor on medical leave for several months, discussion on interim Chief. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 4 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Councilor Strengholt reviewed the following items discussed at the Finance committee meeting: • Review of Payroll and OT. • Review of Sales Tax, which is down. • Lodging Tax (county-wide) is down. • Canadian fuel costs are on par with local fuel costs. Councilor Vis reported that if every Lynden household spent an extra $75 per month - locally - then the loss of Canadian spending could be made up. However with the fuel situation, the loss could be felt deeply. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION Council did not hold an executive session. 8. ADJOURNMENT April 21, 2025 regular session of the Lynden city council adjourned at 9:02 p.m. 't^ )<A^ Scott Korthuis, Mlayor (WkLD.bnxon Pamela Brown, City Clerk 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 5 of 5