Regular City Council Meeting

CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING March 21, 2022 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Korthuis called to order the March 21, 2022 regular session of the Lynden City Council at 7:00 p.m.at the city's council chambers. This was an in-person meeting with the option to call in via telephone. ROLL CALL Members present: Mayor Pro Tem Gary Bode and Councilors, Ron De Valois, Gerald Kuiken, Brent Lenssen, and Nick Laninga. Members absent: Mayor Korthuis, Councilor Strengholt and Councilor Wohlrab. Staff present: Finance Director Anthony Burrows, Parks Director Brent DeRuyter, Planning Director Heidi Gudde, Police Chief Steve Taylor, Public Works Director Steve Banham, City Administrator John Williams, and City Clerk Pam Brown. OATH OF OFFICE- None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor DeValois moved, and CouncilorKuiken seconded to approve the March 7, 2022, regular council meeting minutes as presented. Motion approved on a 5-0 vote. ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE Unscheduled: None Scheduled: Senator Simon Sefzik, 42nd District, Leaislative Session Debrief Senator Sefzik provided council will an update on the legislative session and addressed the following: • Flooding damages - Secured $7.5 million for individual relief and approximately three million in business and agricultural relief to either Whatcom County specifically or throughout the state. • Some people are having difficulties accessing FEMA funds. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 1 of 5  CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING • Public Safety policy amendments which did not go as far as hoped. • Law enforcement recruitment incentives. • Six cent gasoline tax in the transportation package. • Operating budget, with a sixteen-billion-dollar surplus, did not allow for any funding for taxpayer relief. • No movement with changes in emergency powers reform. • Secured $300,000 for the Jim Kaemingk Trail in Lynden. Melissa Ambter and Chris Damitio, WSDOT, Construction Projects in Lvnden Focus on Lynden and vicinity: Construction 2022 and beyond: • Fish Passages (2022-2023) and road closure schedule • Maintenance and Preservation: 2022 NWR HMA Crack Seal & Pavement Repair • Maintenance and Preservation: 2024 SR 546/SR 539 to Fishtrap Creek Paving • Emergency Repairs: SR 544 Overflow culvert repair • Traffic Improvement and Mobility: SR 546 compact roundabout at Benson Road and E. Badger Road • Traffic Improvement and Mobility: SR 539 improvements through Lynden The WSDOT presentation is made a part of the official council file and recording. Council Bode voiced the council's concern with the amount of water coming down from the North. He asks how the city can mitigate for the large amount of water coming into Lynden because of the fish passage projects. CouncilorBode also asked WSDOT staff to consider building a roundabout at Line Road to help with the immense amount of middle school traffic. Unscheduled: None 2. CONSENT AGENDA Payroll Liability to February 27 through March 12, 2021 EFT & Other Liabilities Non-L&l Liabilities Monthly EFT......................................................................................................$347,616.90 Check Liability........................................................................................................$3,086.67 Total Non-L&l Liabilities.....................................................................................$350,703.57 Quarterly Liabilities..............................................................................................$12,719.26 Total EFT & Other Liabilities $363,422.83 300 41h Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 2 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Claims Information not provided. Watervliet Cannon Donation Agreement The Parks Committee and the City Administration discussed the Watervliet cannon located in the Lynden cemetery and what should happen to it should the Cemetery District no longer desire to keep it. Both parties agreed that there should be a donation agreement written and approved by legal staff that would require the Cemetery District to return it to the City of Lynden should that decision occur at any point in the future. 2023 Budget Calendar As required by RCW, there are several budget preparation deadlines as the city moves forward in preparing its year 2023 Budget. These dates are for final review and approval of the full Council. Upon approval this calendar will be distributed with presentations to the satellite agencies, as well as to City departments. This calendar was reviewed earlier by the Finance Committee at their March 21st meeting and approved for review by the full Council. Re-Appointment to Planning Commission, Tim Faber Tim Faber has agreed to serve an additional term on the City's Planning Commission. This reappointment is being brought forward to the City Council meeting for confirmation. The mayor and staff appreciate Tim's willingness to sen/e another term with the Planning Commission and request that the City Council confirm his appointment Civic Plus Website Contract The City's website has advanced to the point that it requires modification. City Administration, at the direction of the Mayor and City Administrator, are upgrading the City's website to meet increasing content demands. To accomplish the needed enhancements the City is seeking to enter into the proposed contract with Civic Plus. Civic Plus is a web developer that will host, secure, and help manage the City's website. These improvements will not only increase functionality, but also make the site more mobile friendly. This contract was reviewed by the Finance Committee at their March 21st meeting and approved for review by the full Council. Councilor Kuiken moved, and Councilor Laninga seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion approved on a 5-0 vote. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 3 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Councilor Lenssen thanked Tim Faber for his many years of service to the city and this community serving as a Planning Commissioner. Councilor Lenssen commended Mr. Faberforhis willingness to serve an addition 4-yearterm with the Planning Commission. 3. PUBLIC HEARING - None 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- None 5. NEW BUSINESS Resolution No. 1047 - Interlocal Agreement for Building Sen/ices The small cities ofWhatcom County have an interlocal agreement for mutual aid. In addition, a more specific agreement is typically in place that provides for the exchange of building inspection and building permit review. This agreement has been valuable to the organization as only one person fills this role for the City of Lynden. A few times per year the City of Lynden utilizes inspectors from other cities (usually Blaine or Sumas). The previous agreement expired at the end of 2021 and a revised agreement has been circulated among the small cities with the final issue of discussion relating to fees. In the proposed agreement the fee was revised from a flat rate to a fee which reflects the actual cost of the employees' time including benefits. This is the most significant alteration from the previous agreement. Reflecting actual cost is consistent with other interlocai agreements the City of Lynden is party to. The Community Development Committee for reviewed proposed changes to this interlocal agreement on December 15th, 2021. Councilor Lenssen moved, and Councilor De Valois seconded to approved Resolution No. 1047- Interlocal Agreement for Building inspection and Permit Review Services and to authorize the mayor's signature on the resolution and agreement documents. Motion approved on a 5-0 vote. 6. OTHER BUSINESS The Parks Committee meeting scheduled for March 21st was re-scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, 2022, same time, and same location. 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 4 of 5 CITY OF LYNDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING Councilor Kuiken reporting for the Finance Committee: • February OT for police and fire reviewed. Although the OT decreased in January, it has increased for February. • Civic Plus contract which is on the council agenda. • Paperless utility billing possibilities. • Delinquent water bills due to two years of COVID issues and what may be some possible resolutions • Sales tax revenue continues to grow, 31% above the projected budget for the year Councilor Bode reporting for the Public Works Committee: • Bidding process for West Front Street Project • Pepin Parkway connection to Benson Road • Meadow Lane flooding. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION Council did not hold an executive session. 8. ADJOURNMENT The March 21, 2022, regular session of the Lynden City Council adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Pdnxh- s>. ftrtni^ <T-)^ J^L^ - i^. Pamela D. Brown, MMC ' Scott Korthuis City Clerk Mayor 300 4th Street, Lynden, WA 98264 www.lyndenwa.org Page 5 of 5