City Council - Regular Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CFTY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING September 2, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Scott Korthuis called to order the September 2, 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, Kyle Strengholt, and Mark Wohlrab. Absences: Councilor Laninga absent with notice. Staff present: Community Development Director Heidi Gudde, Finance Director Laura Scholl, City Clerk Pam Brown, and City Attorney Luke Phifer. OATH OF OFFICE - None. SUMMARY REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Staff Presentation - 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update The Planning Division has been working with a consultant team to look at Lynden's next 20 years and bring together conclusions about how to grow and infrastructure needs in the 2025 update of the Comprehensive Plan. The State's Office of Finance Management estimates that Whatcom County will add over 67,000 people by the year 2045. Lynden is not likely to grow as fast as other jurisdictions due to a challenging land supply, but we are still expecting to see the addition of approximately 6,665 people by 2045. The Comprehensive Plan is a growth management document that considers how to accommodate growth in a way that is consistent with the goals and priorities of the community. The document is required by the State, but more importantly, it is our opportunity to outline a vision and set goals for our future. It is used as the basis for developer requirements as change is proposed and to prioritized public works projects. The update of the Plan is due to the State's Department of Commerce by the end of this year. Public hearings on the draft document have begun with the Planning Commission. It will then go before the Department of Commerce for their comment and finally come before the City Council in November. Council's feedback is welcome at any time and does not need to be held until public hearing 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 4  CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor Strengholt moved and Councilor Vis seconded, to approve the August 18, 2025 regular council minutes. Motion approved on 6-0 vote. CITIZEN COMMENT - None. 2. CONSENT Confirm WTA Board Composition Review Meeting Representative The purpose of the Board Composition Review meeting is to review the Board's current structure (how many members are allotted to the WTA Board from each City in WTA's Public Transportation Benefit Area, as well as from the County.) It is not the purpose of this meeting to select the individuals serving on the Board. The council representatives attending the Board Composition Review meeting will have the authority to change the Board composition by a majority vote of those present, if they deem it appropriate, or they may vote to leave the Board structure unchanged. Councilor Bode moved and CouncilorBeld seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion approved on 6-0 vote. 3. PUBLIC HEARING - None. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS-None. 5. NEW BUSINESS Amendment to County Wide Planning Policies The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires the adoption countywide planning policies in cooperation with Whatcom County and its cities (RCW36.70A.040(4) and RCW36.70A.210). Countywide planning policies establish a framework for developing city and county comprehensive plans and ensuring these plans are consistent. The City Council originally adopted countywide planning policies in 1993 and these have been periodically amended. The most recent proposed amendment corresponds with the update to the county and city comprehensive plans and reflects recent requirements of the State. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 4  CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Exhibit A, (included in the council packet) was approved by the County Council on May 27th and in accordance with the interlocal agreement the next step is to seek approval from the majority of Whatcom County cities. Councilor Lenssen moved and CouncilorStrengholt seconded, to approve the amended Couty Wide Planning Policies and authorize Planning Staff to draft a resolution reflecting this approval as well as authorizing the Mayor's signature on the document. Motion approved on 6-0 vote. 6. REPORTS Councilor Lenssen reviewed the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee draft minutes of August 26,2025. Councilor Vis reported discussion with the Parks Committee members about multiple Parks projects that will have to be placed on hold due to the City's inability to continue to fund operations, insurance, and maintenance costs. Councilor Vis stressed that this is in no way a reflection of the projects but simply decisions based on the on-going financial impacts to the City. Councilor Bode reported on the grass-cutting volunteer project occurring on the Homestead property. The volunteers will provide additional grass-cutting services on Saturday, September 6th. CouncilorWohlrab reported on discussion of these items at the August 21,2025 Public Safety Committee meeting: • HR review of the current shared leave policy. • Discussion of electric scooter safety and the RCWs related to those issues. • Discussion of Fire Department OT issues. • Discussion of Police Department OT issues. Councilor Beld expressed some questions related to the decisions made on the City's sick leave donation policies. Mayor Korthuis asked Council to wait until the City Administrator, John Williams returns so that those questions and any additional details related to the policy can be addressed. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION Council did not hold an executive session. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 4 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING The September 2, 2025 regular session of the Lynden city council adjourned at 7:45 pm. ,^|3^, ScottT<orthuis(J/laV6r ~ %jnnd& P.-fcwuon Pamela D. Brown, City Clerk 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 4 of 4