City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 27, 2013 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Boudreau at 7:01 p.m. Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Hulst, Lindquist, Molenaar, Quam, and Ragan Absent: Councilmembers Fiedler and Urban (excused) Staff Present: Public Works Director Bell, Police Chief Dodd, Community and Economic Development Director Hanson, Fire Chief Hari, Finance Director Huschka, City Attorney Rogerson, Special Projects Administrator Stendal and Solid Waste Division Manager Sutherland Citizens Present: 19 CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of February 15, 2013 payroll checks numbered 101194 – 101236, direct deposit checks numbered 40178 – 40368, and wire transfers numbered 411 & 412 in the amount of $634,579.89. Councilmember Hulst moved to approve the February 15, 2013 payroll checks numbered 101194 – 101236, direct deposit checks numbered 40178 – 40368, and wire transfers numbered 411 & 412 in the amount of $634,579.89. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 5-0. B. Approval of February 27, 2013 claims numbered 128921, 128923, 128924 – 129083 in the amount of $555,282.16. Councilmember Ragan moved to approve the February 27, 2013 claims numbered 128921, 128923, 128924 – 129083 in the amount of $555,282.16. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 5-0. REPORTS A. Economic Development Committee – for details see Committee minutes . B. Finance Committee – for details see Committee minutes . C. Community Comments:  Dan Mitzel, Mount Vernon business owner, came before Council to request that property that he owns on Gunn Road be reinstated on the Comprehensive Plan Docket. This property was excluded from the docket by Council at a previous Mount Vernon City Council February 27, 2013 Page 2 of 4 meeting. He has been working closely with Skagit County Jail consultant Mark Estvold to make it possible for this site to be considered as a possible one for a new jail that the County will be building. D. Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Boudreau gave a presentation at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon today during which she gave a summary of her last year and her goals for the coming years.  Mayor Boudreau summarized the 2013 top legislative priorities that were discussed with the State legislators during the recent trip that administrative staff and Councilmembers made to Olympia. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposed Amendment to Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 15: Ms. Hanson presented a proposed amendment to the Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 15, adding a new chapter, 15.18 Land Clearing. The proposed chapter will regulate tree clearing activities within the City and assume jurisdiction for processing Forest Practice permits per RCW 76.09.240. It is not the intent of this proposed chapter to establish a tree preservation ordinance, but to control the timing of tree clearing to insure orderly development. The ordinance would limit clearing to those projects with an approved development permit or to projects where development is imminent within two years. Clearing would be limited to that which is necessary for infrastructure and utilities to serve a subdivision. Unless the alternative process outlined in the ordinance is pursued, clearing for building lots is not allowed until a building permit is issued. The alternative process requires comprehensive design level detail to ensure that clearing and development are well thought out and closely timed. Mayor Boudreau opened the public hearing.  Steve Falquist came to urge Council to support this proposal.  Chuck Deasy came to express his opposition to the proposed ordinance.  Harold Lee was present to represent the Mount Vernon Parks Foundation and give their support of this ordinance.  John Piazza presented his opposition to the proposal as he feels it adds expense to the cost of building on lots if there are restrictions on how they are cleared.  Mary Ruth Holder spoke to the negative environmental impacts that are a result of clear cutting areas that are not then developed.  Jim Carter added his support to Ms. Holder and sited specific sites that have been cleared and left undeveloped for many years.  Sheila McCandlish supported the passage of this ordinance.  Wayne Crider SICBA came forward to urge Council to reconsider certain aspects of this ordinance because of the fiscal impacts this would have on builders and developers.  Dan Mitzel provided his insight into the expense of removing trees in segments as land is developed instead of clearing a site.  Gary Ray president of SICBA indicated that it is his organization’s position that Mount Vernon City Council February 27, 2013 Page 3 of 4 this will not save any trees or forests but it will make it difficult to build homes that are affordable for lower income families.  Jim Taylor representing Mount Vernon Trail Builders expressed their support for this ordinance.  Maggie Sullivan has experience building on lots that have existing trees left on them and she believes that it is a good ordinance and builders who have problems with it have not planned adequately. There being no further comment Mayor Boudreau closed the public hearing. Councilmembers addressed questions and comments to staff. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve Ordinance 3599 amending Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 15, adding chapter 15.18 Land Clearing. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 4-1, Councilmember Hulst opposed. B. Acceptance of Section 108 Loan Guarantee: Mr. Stendal presented a request for Council to hold an open record public hearing to obtain the views of citizens and other interested parties on the housing and non-housing community development needs of the City before a $1,000,000 Section 108 Loan Guarantee. Following the public hearing staff requests that Council authorize the Mayor to sign all documents to accept a Section 108 Loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be used as part of the overall funding of the Phase II Downtown Flood Protection and Waterfront Revitalization Project. Mayor Boudreau opened the public hearing. There being no comment Mayor Boudreau closed the public hearing. Councilmember Ragan moved to authorize the Mayor to sign and accept a Section 108 Loan Guarantee from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $1,000,000. Motion seconded by Councilmember Hulst. Motion carried 5-0. C. Authorization to Purchase Solid Waste Utility Vehicles: Mr. Sutherland presented a request for Council to authorize the purchase of one new commercial rear-load garbage truck and one new yard waste tractor for the Solid Waste Utility. Both of these vehicles were approved in the 2013 budget. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the purchase of the Solid Waste Utility Vehicles. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ragan. Motion carried 5-0. D. 2012 Sanitary and Storm Sewer Inspection Project: Mr. Bell presented a request for Council to authorize the Mayor to accept the work completed by Innovative Vacuum Services, Inc. on the 2012 Sanitary and Storm Sewer Inspection Project in the amount of $88,440.36. The work was performed in accordance with the plans and specifications. Councilmember Hulst moved to accept the 2012 Sanitary and Storm Sewer Inspection done by Innovative Vacuum Services, Inc. in the amount of $88,440.36. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 5-0. Mount Vernon City Council February 27, 2013 Page 4 of 4 The meeting was convened into Executive Session at 8:46 p.m. and was estimated to last 60 minutes. E. Executive Session: Pending or Potential Litigation and Property Acquisition. The meeting was reconvened into regular session at 9:45 p.m. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:46 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Rebecca J. Wade, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________________ Jill Boudreau, Mayor