City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 24, 2014 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Ragan at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Pro Tem Ragan, Councilmembers Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Molenaar, Quam and Urban Absent: Mayor Boudreau Staff Present: Recreation Supervisor Brookings, Police Chief Dodd, Finance Director Huschka, Parks and Recreation Director Otos, City Attorney Rogerson, Special Projects Administrator Stendal, Solid Waste Manager Sutherland and Parks Supervisor Weppler Citizens Present: 27 APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of September 10, 2014 City Council meeting minutes. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve the September 10, 2014 Council meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS AND PAYROLL A. Approval of September 24, 2014 claims numbered 136423 - 136524 in the amount of $519,460.63. Councilmember Hulst moved to approve the September 24, 2014 claims numbered 136423 - 136524 in the amount of $519,460.63. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 7-0. B. Approval of September 15, 2014 payroll checks numbered 103372 - 103418, direct deposit checks numbered 47720 - 47922, and wire transfers numbered 487 & 488 in the amount of $711,319.66. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve the September 15, 2014 payroll checks numbered 103372 - 103418, direct deposit checks numbered 47720 - 47922, and wire transfers numbered 487 & 488 in the amount of $711,319.66. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler . Motion carried 7-0. REPORTS A. Committee Reports:  Finance – for details see Committee minutes. Mount Vernon City Council Sept. 24, 2014 Page 2 of 5  Economic Development – for details see Committee minutes. B. Councilmembers Comments:  Councilmember Lindquist commented on the Waterfront Development ribbon cutting ceremony.  Councilmember Ragan commented on the Downtown Association’s clean up and painting of the Jasper Gates Statue area. C. Committee Agenda Requests:  Councilmember Hulst asked that a discussion of property tax banked capacity be undertaken at a Committee of the Whole or Finance Committee meeting.  Councilmember Urban asked for a sign ordinance update at the Economic Development Committee meeting. OLD BUSINESS A. Amendment to Agreement with Carletti Architects: Mr. Otos presented Council with a request for Council to authorize an amendment to the agreement with Carletti Architects for the downtown restroom facility project design. Downtown Business Association Executive Director Ellen Gamson spoke and read a letter authorized by Julie Blazek of the Downtown Mount Vernon Design Committee who supported the location at the Teamsters building site and acknowledged that the location of a public facility like this is critical to the Downtown area. Councilmember Hulst moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an amendment to the agreement with Carletti Architects for design work. Motion seconded by Councilmember Urban. Motion carried 7-0. NEW BUSINESS A. Contract Extension – Residential Curbside Recycling: Mr. Sutherland presented Council with a request to authorize the Mayor to enter into a three year extension of the agreement with Waste Management for residential curbside recycle collection, transportation and processing. Councilmember Fiedler moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a three year extension with Waste Management for residential curbside recycling. Motion seconded by Councilmember Lindquist. Motion carried 7-0. B. Update – Library Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study Final Report: Mr. Soneda introduced consultants from SHKS Architects and BERK who presented Council with the final summary of the needs assessment and feasibility study that was done regarding a potential new Library. Mr. Soneda introduced Mr. Kevin Cane from SHKS Architects. Three potential sites were analyzed. Public comment was used to rank the most important features that a new library would need to provide. Space to read is ranked as the highest priority for a new facility. This feedback was used to help develop criteria for a new building size. All three sites could accommodate the potential size needed. They would all need to be two story buildings. The existing library site satisfies more of the Mount Vernon City Council Sept. 24, 2014 Page 3 of 5 siting factors identified by survey respondents. The project budget for a 2 story 40,400 square foot library would be $22.71 million at the current site. The other sites would add acquisition costs to the project. Mr. Soneda asked that community members be allowed to speak on this  Mary Ruth Holder, a city resident, spoke in support of expansion of the Mount Vernon Library.  Ellen Gamson from the Mount Vernon Downtown Association emphasized the importance the library plays in the economic and social value of a community.  Carl Bruner, Superintendent Mount Vernon School District, spoke regarding the link that schools and public libraries have in providing literacy rich cultural opportunities for residents. The public library helps to provide citizens with early and continuing learning opportunities. C. Street Closure Request: Mr. Stendal presented Council with a request for approval to close 1st Street from Division to Kincaid; and Pine, Myrtle, Gates and Montgomery from Main to 2nd street between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014 for the Mount Vernon Downtown Association sponsored Trick or Treat Event. Councilmember Lindquist moved to approve the above outlined street closures. Motion seconded by Councilmember Urban. Motion carried 7-0. D. Agreement with Community Action of Skagit County: Mr. Stendal presented Council with a request to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Community Action of Skagit County for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding related to public services in an amount not to exceed $40,958. These funds will be used for homeless shelters and critical needs. Councilmember Quam moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Community Action of Skagit County for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding related to public services in an amount not to exceed $40,958. Motion seconded by Councilmember Urban. Motion carried 7-0. E. Agreement with Home Trust of Skagit: Mr. Stendal presented Council with a request to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Home Trust of Skagit for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support home purchase activities for eligible low and moderate income individuals, families and households in an amount not to exceed $75,000. Councilmember Fiedler moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Home Trust of Skagit for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support home purchase activities for eligible low and moderate income individuals, families and households in an amount not to exceed $75,000. Motion seconded by Councilmember Hulst. Motion carried 7-0. F. Agreement with Catholic Housing Services: Mr. Stendal presented Council with a request to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Archdiocesan Housing authority, dba Catholic Housing Services for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for assistance in rehabilitation of its La Casa De San Jose low Mount Vernon City Council Sept. 24, 2014 Page 4 of 5 income apartment in an amount not to exceed $40,101. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Archdiocesan Housing authority, dba Catholic Housing Services for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for assistance in rehabilitation of its La Casa De San Jose low income apartment in an amount not to exceed $40,101. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. G. Agreement with Compass Health: Mr. Stendal presented Council with a request to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Compass Health for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for assistance in rehabilitation of its LaFollette low income apartments in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Councilmember Lindquist moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Compass Health for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for assistance in rehabilitation of its LaFollette low income apartments in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7-0. H. Monthly Parks and Recreation Update: Mr. Otos presented Council an update on recent Parks and Recreation activity. Kathy Fredricks from the Mount Vernon Arts Commission came forward with an update on what the Arts Commission has been doing. One item was the refurbishing of the Mural on Lincoln Hill. Donated art projects are being considered. The Gateway Art Projects are being reviewed and are a focus for 2015. The Waterfront Plaza area is also a focus for potential art projects. The Arts Commission is selling bricks for a fund raising project. The meeting was adjourned into executive session at 8:35 p.m. and estimated to last 15 minutes. I. Executive Session – Real Estate Acquisition: The meeting was reconvened at 8:50 pm. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm. SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Rebecca J. Wade, Recording Secretary Mount Vernon City Council Sept. 24, 2014 Page 5 of 5 ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________________ Jill Boudreau, Mayor