City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 9, 2014 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Boudreau at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Lindquist, Hulst, Molenaar, Quam, and Urban Absent: Councilmember Ragan,excused Staff Present: Community and Economic Director Hanson, Police Chief Dodd, Fire Chief Hari, Fire Marshall Riggs, Library Director Soneda, Community and Economic Development Director Hanson, Finance Director Huschka, Public Works Director Bell, Assistant Public Works Director Love, Wastewaster Supervisor Duranceau, Special Projects Administrator Stendal, City Attorney Rogerson Citizens Present: Five APPROVAL OF MINUTES None APPROVAL OF CLAIMS AND PAYROLL A. Approval of April 9, 2014 claims numbered 134344, 134352 - 134543 in the amount of $332,373.32. Councilmember Molenaar moved to approve the April 9, 2014 claims as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 6-0. B. Approval of March 31, 2014 payroll checks numbered 102744 - 102798, direct deposit checks numbered 45467 – 45667, and wire transfers numbered 465 & 466 in the amount of $1,010,589.56. Councilmember Hulst moved to approve the March 31, 2014 payroll as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 6-0. REPORTS Mount Vernon City Council April 9, 2014 Page 2 of 5 A. Committees: 1. Public Works – for details see Committee minutes. 2. Public Safety – for details see Committee minutes. B. Community Comments:  Gary Thor, president of Commercial Cold Storage, stated he sent an email to city council to offer his willingness to enter into negotiations with the City regarding a property settlement agreement and requested a response to the request.  Al Lyons, Mount Vernon resident and business owner, received his new flood insurance premium at a great increase. His insurance agent told him he needed to hire a hydrologist which would be very expensive. After speaking with Rick Prosser in the city building department he was able to have the City provide an elevation certificate and receive a 39% discount on his flood insurance. He has also had positive results with the Public Works Department communicating with him about the ongoing waterfront project.  Bill Craig, resident of Mount Vernon, said that the Safe Kids Skagit/Island annual fundraiser will be April 19th at La Conner Middle School. His organization will be at the April 26th opening of Skagit Regional Clinics opening checking car seats and bike helmets. C. Councilmember Comments:  Councilmember Hulst stated he wanted to recognize Public Works Director Bell for the positive feedback he received on some recent traffic issues. He also added that he and Councilmember Molenaar will be having their annual ward meeting on May 27th at Hillcrest Park.  Councilmember Fiedler invited everyone to join in the efforts of the Skagit Fisheries and Enhancements on April 19th at Edgewater Park to help clean up the salmon streams. D. Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Boudreau stated that the Hillcrest Lodge sidewalk improvements project has been completed.  Mayor Boudreau said that she had a meeting with WSDOT to discuss the Kincaid exit retaining wall enhancement and west Mount Vernon bridge. WSDOT is receptive to working with the City to enhance the retaining wall but the bridge is not scheduled for cleaning until 2024. They are willing to partner with the City to enhance the entrances to the bridge in the mean time. She also met WSU president Floyd to discuss the local agriculture projects.  Mayor Boudreau said that the Waterfront project is on schedule to be completed by September 2014.  Mayor Boudreau announced that the April 11th Mayors Coffee will be at Skagit Co-op at 10 a.m. and April 17 at Skagit Community Action at 12 p.m. Mount Vernon City Council April 9, 2014 Page 3 of 5  Reschedule the April 23, 2014 Regular Session to April 22, 2014 to coincide with the special jail meeting: Councilmember Fiedler moved to reschedule the April 23, 2014 regular session to April 22, 2014 coinciding with the special jail meeting. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 6-0. E. Committee Agenda Requests: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS A. Agreement with Abeyta & Associates for Property Acquisition Services: Mr. Stendal stated that this agreement with Abeyta & Associates is for property acquisition services for the property located at 1201 S 1st Street. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Abeyta & Associates for property acquisition services not to exceed $57,270. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 6-0. B. 2014 National Library Week Proclamation: Mr. Soneda read the proclamation declaring April 13 – 19 as National Library Week. Councilmember Hulst moved to support the proclamation declaring the 2014 National Library Week. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 6-0. C. Out of State Travel Request – Fire Department: Fire Chief Hari explained that this request is to send the office manager to the Zoll Summit Conference May 11 to May 16. Zoll is the development company for the records management system used by the Fire Department. Mount Vernon City Council April 9, 2014 Page 4 of 5 Councilmember Quam moved to approval the out of state travel request as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 6-0. D. Fire Permit Fee Schedule Update: Fire Marshall Riggs said that this request is to update the Fire Permit Fee Schedule. The last fee update was in 1999. Councilmember Hulst stated he was not in support of the fee increase because the public has certain expectations when paying property tax and sales tax. The current fees should be sufficient. Councilmembers’ Urban and Molenaar stated they were both in support of the updated fee schedule. Councilmember Urban moved to approve the Fire permit fee schedule as stated above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 5-1. Councilmember Hulst opposed. E. Bid Award – Wastewater Treatment Plant Aeration Blower Upgrade Project, No 14-2: Mr. Love stated the bid opening occurred on March 5, 2014 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant aeration blower. One bid was received from Sulzer/ABS in the amount of $101,250 plus 8.5% sales tax. Councilmember Fiedler moved to accept the bid from Sulzer/ABS for the aeration blower in the amount of $101,250 plus 8.5% sales tax. Motion seconded by Councilmember Hulst. Motion carried 6-0. F. Completion of Work – 2013 Storm Sewer Inspection Project 13-8: Mr. Chesterfield said that Columbia Pumping and Construction has satisfactorily completed the 2013 Storm Sewer Inspection Project 13-8. Councilmember Lindquist moved to accept the work completed by Columbia Pumping and Construction on the 2013 Storm Sewer Inspection Project 13-8 in the amount of $63,786.88. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 6-0. G. Interlocal Agreement with Port of Skagit County: Mr. Rogerson explained that this Interlocal Agreement with the Port of Skagit County is an extension of the original Interlocal Agreement entered into in 2009. In addition to the original terms this agreement will allow for the Port to use the city’s small works roster and limits the city’s liability. Councilmember Fiedler moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Port of Skagit County. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 6-0. Mount Vernon City Council April 9, 2014 Page 5 of 5 The meeting was adjourned into executive session at 7:55 p.m. and estimated to last 60 minutes. H. Executive Session – Enforcement Action, Pending or Potential Litigation, Real Estate Acquisition: The meeting was reconvened into regular session at 8:55 p.m. Councilmember Fiedler moved: i) that the Council acknowledged receipt of letter by Commercial Cold Storage ; and ii) that legal counsel for the City will respond to CCS explaining the City’s position and process including that the City welcomes discussion and settlement negotiations once the City has completed its appraisal. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________ Lori J. Kimbriel, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ______________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________ Jill Boudreau, Mayor