City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 27, 2011 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Norris at 7:10 p.m. Present: Mayor Norris, Councilmembers, Lindquist, McMullen, Molenaar, Quam, Ragan and Urban. Absent: Councilmember Fiedler (excused) Staff Present: City Attorney Rogerson, Police Chief Bergsma, Public Works Director Bell, Assistant Public Works Director Love, Library Director Soneda, Senior Planner Lowell, Special Projects Administrator Stendal, Oates Citizens Present: 20 CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of March 23 and April 13, 2011 Regular Council Meeting Minutes and the April 20, 2011 Study Session Minutes. Councilmember Urban moved to approve the March 23 and April 13, 2011 Regular Council Meeting Minutes and the April 20, 2011 Study Session Minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember McMullen. Motion carried 6-0. B. Approval of April 27, 2011 claims numbered 120465 – 120636 in the amount of $730,889.66. Councilmember Quam moved to approve the April 27, 2011 claims numbered 120465 - 120636 in the amount of $493,927.01. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 6-0. REPORTS A. Committee Report: see Finance Committee agenda and minutes for details B. Community Comments:  Richard Boyer, Mount Vernon resident, spoke about a senate bill to close some centers for mentally disabled persons and relocate them to neighborhoods. He encouraged Council to contact Olympia to oppose this bill C. Mayor’s Report: none D. Councilmember Comments: none E. Committee agenda request: Mr. Urban asked to readdress electronic Council packets. Mount Vernon City Council April 27, 2011 Page 2 of 5 UNFINISHEDBUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A. Closure of Alley from Pine Square Plaza to Myrtle Street: Mr. Stendal presented a request for the closure of the alleyway from Pine Square Plaza north to Myrtle Street from 12:00 noon until 10:00 p.mn. on Friday May 6, 2011 for the purpose of holding an Art in the Alley event sponsored by the Mount Vernon Downtown Association. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve the requested alley closure for the Art in the Alley event. Motion seconded by Councilmember Urban. Motion carried 6-0. B. 2010 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG): Mr. Love asked Council to accept the work performed by SRV Construction under the 2010 CBDG Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project. Rebar and underground tank removal added extra costs to the original contract amount. Councilmember Ragan moved to accept the work completed by SRV Construction performed under the 2010 CBDG Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $85,779.97. Motion seconded by Councilmember McMullen. Motion carried 6-0. C. Out of State Travel -Library: Mr. Soneda made a request to travel to New Orleans to attend the American Library Association’s 2011 Conference. Mr. Soneda is the president of the Washington Library Association therefore travel, lodging and registration costs will be paid by the association. Councilmember Urban moved to approve out of state travel as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 6-0. D. Professional Services Agreement with David Evans and Associates (DEA): Mr. Bell presented a request for Council to authorize the Mayor to enter into a professional services agreement with DEA in the amount of $20,000 to provide traffic modeling and concept level analysis for identifying the best option to improve traffic at Division and First Streets. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a professional services agreement with David Evans and Associates to provide modeling and concept analysis as described above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Urban. Motion carried 6-0. E. Closed Record Public Hearing – Five Site Specific Comprehensive Plan Amendments: This is a closed record public hearing regarding five site specific Comprehensive Plan amendments and associated rezones. Ms. Lowell presented the following requests: Mount Vernon City Council April 27, 2011 Page 3 of 5  LU11-003 – New Life Christian Church, comprehensive plan amendment and from General Commercial (GC) to Church (C) and rezone General Commercial (C-2) to Public (P)  LU11-005 – Summit Bank, Comprehensive Plan amendment designation change from Neighborhood Retail (NR) to Retail Malls-General Commercial (RMGC) with zoning to remain General Commercial (C-2)  LU11-009 – Holland Homecare, Comprehensive Plan amendment to change from a split comprehensive plan designation of Multi-Family Medium-High Density (MF-MH) and Professional Office (PO) to General Commercial (GC); and rezone from Multi-Family Residential (R-3) to General Commercial (C-2).  LU11-010 – Baker Community Presbyterian Church, Comprehensive Plan amendment designation change from Commercial Limited Industrial (C-L) to Church (CH) and rezone from Commercial-Limited Industrial (C-L) to Public (P).  LU11-011 – Skagit Valley College, Comprehensive Plan amendment designation change from Multi-Family-Medium High Density (MF-MH) to Community College (CC) and rezone from Multi-family Residential (R-3) to Public (P)  Mayor Norris opened the closed record public hearing. There were no comments for LU11-003, LU11-005 and LU11-0011. LU11-010: Sonya Dahl, Mount Vernon business owner, is opposed to the changes because she feels that it the area should allow only commercial uses. Ted Schultz, Seattle resident and pastor, supports the proposed changes. Marlin Galbert, Bothell resident and project architect supports the proposed changes. Alexander Kim, Burlington resident and congregation member, supports the proposed changes. Hearing no further comments Mayor Norris closed the public hearing. Councilmember Urban moved to approve Ordinance 3529 amending the Comprehensive Plan as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 6-0. F. Closed Record Public Hearing – Holland Homecare Expansion of a Non-Conforming Use LU11-017: Ms. Lowell explained that this request made by Jerry Willins is to expand and existing non-conforming commercial use for Holland Homecare located at 1911 East Division Street. They will erect a warehouse building on the property. Mount Vernon City Council April 27, 2011 Page 4 of 5 Mayor Norris opened the closed record public hearing. Hearing no comments Mayor Norris closed the public hearing. Councilmember Urban moved to approve the expansion of an existing non-conforming use for Holland Homecare. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 6-0. G. Open Record Public Hearing – Proposed Amendments to the Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 16 Chapter 16.16: The proposed amendments to Street Design Standards would modify the minimum required dimensions for new streets, limit the use of private streets, clarify fire and safety access stands and add decision criteria for modifications request. Ms Oates explained that the primary reason for this request is to ensure public safety. It has been an ongoing access issue for emergency vehicles when residents park on both sides of the narrower streets These wider streets have been included in the code; this action will make them the standard Mayor Norris opened the open record public hearing Jim Spane, Mount Vernon resident representing SCIBA, submitted a letter to Council addressing their concerns with the proposed changes. Ms. Oates addressed the points of concern:  Parking enforcement – Staff already provides parking enforcement. The goals is to create safe travel for emergency vehicles and avoid parking issues  Cul de sac size – The standard for cul de sacs is 90 foot diameter and this is not being changed.  Block width – Ms. Oates will research.  Changes being made for financial gain – The changes are for public safety not financial gain Councilmember Urban pointed out that although the changes are beneficial for emergency vehicle access they are also necessary for garbage trucks on a regular basis. Chief Hari clarified the fire hydrant requirements in relation the wider streets. Councilmember Urban moved to approve Ordinance 3530 amending the Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 16 Chapter 16.16 Street Design Standards. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Mount Vernon City Council April 27, 2011 Page 5 of 5 SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Becky Jensen, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________________ Bud Norris, Mayor