City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 14, 2012 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Boudreau at 7:02 p.m. Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Lindquist, Hulst, Molenaar, Quam, Ragan and Urban Staff Present: City Attorney Rogerson, Special Projects Administrator Stendal, Community and Economic Development Director Hanson, Information Systems Manager Kleppe, Assistant Public Works Director Love, Engineering Services Manager Chesterfield, Finance Director Huschka Citizens Present: Two CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of October 17, 2012 Study Session minutes and October 24, 2012 Regular Council Meeting minutes: Councilmember Fiedler moved to approve the October 17, 2012 Study Session minutes and October 24, 2012 Regular Council meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. A. Approval of October 31, 2012 payroll checks numbered 100732 – 100 794, direct deposit checks numbered 38828 – 3 9021, and wire transfers numbered 397 & 398 in the amount of $916,136.76. Councilmember Hulst moved to approve the October 31, 2012 payroll checks numbered 100732 – 100794, direct deposit checks numbered 38828 – 39021 and wire transfers numbered 397 & 398 in the amount of $916,136.76. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 7-0. B. Approval of November 14, 2012 claims numbered 127533 – 127536 and 127552 - 127841 in the amount of $1,031,798.47. Councilmember Urban moved to approve the November 14, 2012 claims as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ragan. Motion carried 7-0. REPORTS A. Public Works – for details see Committee minutes Mount Vernon City Council November 14, 2012 Page 2 of 5 B. Community Comments:  Richard Bowyer, Mount Vernon resident, urged Council to take a 1-2 percent property tax levy for 2013.  Scott Correa, Mount Vernon resident, spoke in favor of railroad crossing switch position viewers so that emergency vehicles could see where trains are located. Mr. Correa also supports a property tax increase. C. Councilmember Comments:  Councilmember Molenaar announced that Council is sponsoring a free viewing of the movie “Elf” at the Lincoln Theatre 3:00 p.m. November 25, 2012. D. Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Boudreau thanked those that attended and supported the Veterans Day celebration on November 11, 2012.  Mayor Boudreau asserted her commitment to providing correct information to the public.  The next Mayor’s coffee hour is scheduled for Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Jungle Playland. E. Committee Agenda Requests:  Councilmember Urban referenced the recent cyber theft at the City of Burlington and requests a discussion of security practices that are in place to prevent this from happening to the Mount Vernon. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Continuation – Set 2013 Property Taxes : Mayor Boudreau presented an overview of the proposed 2013 budget. She discussed fund balance and reserves as well as labor costs and employee benefits. The goal is to preserve current services and improve efficiencies through technology while absorbing lost revenues. Mayor Boudreau recommends approving a property tax increase. Ms. Huschka explained that the deadline for setting the property tax levy is November 30, 2012. Property tax provides 30% and sales tax 22% of the revenue for governmental operating funds. The proposed budget reflects using $665,000 of the City’s $2.7 million of reserves. Ms. Huschka reminded Council that as a result of not taking the maximum regular property tax which could be levied in past years, the City has accumulated a banked levy capacity of $605,829 which is also available for consideration. The City has not taken a property tax increase for the last eight years in a row. In addition, the City is losing $138,000 from liquor profits and due to court mandates will have an increase in public defense costs of $100,000. Councilmembers Urban, Fiedler and Lindquist expressed support of a property tax increase while Councilmembers Hulst and Molenaar prefer to look for additional decreases in expenditures. Councilmember Urban moved to continue this item until November 28, 2012. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7-0. Mount Vernon City Council November 14, 2012 Page 3 of 5 NEW BUSINESS A. Public Defender Services: Mr. Stendal presented an ordinance that would adopt new standards for the delivery of public defender services. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve Ordinance 3584 adopting new standards for the delivery of Public Defender services. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7-0. B. Interlocal Agreement with Skagit Valley Hospital for TV10 Production Services: Mr. Kleppe made a request for Council to authorize the renewal of an agreement with Skagit Valley Hospital to allow the City to provide video production services. Services will increase to 400 hours of video production for a total contract amount of $30,000. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Skagit Valley Hospital for the City to provide video production services. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ragan. Motion carried 7-0. C. Fiber Optic License Agreement: Mr. Kleppe presented an agreement with Dimensional Communications, Inc. to provide data and voice services on the City’s Fiber Network. The City will receive 15% of the gross revenues for use of the City fiber and 5% for voice services. Councilmember Fiedler moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Dimensional Communications to provide data and voice services on the City’s Fiber Network. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0 . D. Completion of Work – 2012 Pavement Evaluation Project : Mr. Love stated that the 2012 Pavement Evaluation Project is complete. The project included surveying the condition of all streets in Mount Vernon and reporting on their condition. Councilmember Urban moved to accept the completion of work for the 2012 Pavement Evaluation Project. Motion seconded by Councilmember Hulst. Motion carried 7-0. E. Bid Award – Sa fe Routes to School Sidewalk Improvements Project: Mr. Love reported that fifteen bids were received for the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Program. The lowest responsible bid was submitted by C. Johnson Construction, Inc. in the amount of $114,247.90; staff recommends awarding the bid to C. Johnson Construction, Inc. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with C. Johnson Construction, Inc. for the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Improvements Program in an amount not to exceed $114,247.90. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ragan. Motion carried 7-0. Mount Vernon City Council November 14, 2012 Page 4 of 5 F. Award of Contract – Lower Kulshan Creek Hydraulic Study, Project 12-16 : Mr. Chesterfield asked for approval of the proposal submitted by Harmsen and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $12,630.00 for work to be performed on the Lower Kulshan Creek Hydraulic Study Project. The study will help determine the cause of the flooding in this area. Councilmember Molenaar moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Harmsen and Associates, Inc. in amount not to exceed $12,630.00 for surveying and engineering services for the Lower Kulshan Creek Hydraulic Study, Project 12-16. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. G. Agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): Mr. Love presented a Local Agency Agreement with WSDOT for a Safety Improvement Grant at the intersection of College Way and LaVenture Road in the amount of $15,000. The grant is for design funding for signal upgrades to improve safety and reduce accidents at this intersection. Councilmember Hulst moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a Local Agency agreement with WSDOT for design of signal upgrades at the College Way/LaVenture intersection. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7 -0 H. Agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): Mr. Love presented a Local Agency Agreement with WSDOT for a Citywide Safety Improvement Grant in the amount of $65,000. The grant is for design funding to improve safety and reduce accidents at 22 signalized intersections throughout the City. Councilmember Urban moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a Local Agency agreement with WSDOT for design of Safety Improvements at 22 signalized intersections throughout the City. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 7-0. I. Property Acquisition: Mr. Rogerson reviewed an ordinance providing for the acquisition of real estate property for the Downtown Floodwall Project. Councilmember Urban moved to approve Ordinance 3585 for the acquisition of real estate for the Downtown Floodwall Project. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7-0. J. Change Wording to Set November Regular Council Meeting: Mr. Rogerson explained the wording in the ordinance setting the meeting time and date for the last regular City Council meeting in November needs to be revised to set the meeting to November 28, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmember Lindquist moved to change the last regular City Council meeting date in November to November 28, 2012 at 6:00. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fielder. Motion carried 7-0. Mount Vernon City Council November 14, 2012 Page 5 of 5 The meeting was convened into executive session at 8:01 p.m. was estimated to last 35 minutes. K. Executive Session: Collective Bargaining, Pending or Potential Litigation and Property Acquisition. The meeting was reconvened into regular session at 8:36 p.m. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Becky Jensen, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________________ Jill Boudreau, Mayor