City Council

Mount Vernon City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 24, 2015 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Boudreau at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Molenaar, Quam, Ragan and Urban. Staff Present: Human Resources Director Bartlett, Public Works Director Bell, Street Department Supervisor Brickley, Recreation Supervisor Brookings, Surface Water Utility Manager Chesterfield, Police Chief Dodd, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Duranceau, Fire Chief Hari, Finance Director Huschka, Community and Economic Development Director Hyde, Information Services Manager Kleppe, Assistant Public Works Director Love, Equipment Rental Manager Owens, General Facilities Manager Prosser, City Attorney Rogerson, Library Director Soneda, Special Projects Administrator Stendal, Solid Waste Supervisor Sutherland, Parks Supervisor Weppler. Citizens Present: 11 Approval of Minutes A. Approval of November 10, 2015 Regular Council meeting minutes. Councilmember Fiedler moved to approve the November 10, 2015 Regular Council meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. Approval of Claims and Payroll A. Approval of November 24, 2015 claims numbered 142363 and 142366 - 142561 in the amount of $804,591.63. Councilmember Hulst moved to approve the November 24, 2015 claims numbered 142363 and 142366 - 142561 in the amount of $804,591.63. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7-0. B. Approval of November 15, 2015 payroll checks numbered 104863 - 104906, direct deposit checks numbered 53373 - 53575, and wire transfers numbered 543 and 544 in the amount of $736,062.41. Councilmember Ragan moved to approve November 15, 2015 payroll checks numbered 104863 - 104906, direct deposit checks numbered 53373 - 53575, and wire transfers numbered 543 and 544 in the amount of $736,062.41. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 7-0. Mount Vernon City Council November 24, 2015 Page 2 of 4 REPORTS A. Mayor’s Report – provided an update on coffee hours NEW BUSINESS A. 2016 Budget Adoption and Public Hearing: Mayor Boudreau acknowledged the assistance of City Department Directors and their staff on the creation of this budget, and especially Ms. Huschka. This budget is focused on fulfilling the City’s mission statement as well as following strategic goals and financial policies. The 2016 proposed budget for the City of Mount Vernon is $53,282,853 which is a 2% increase compared to the 2015 budget. The total governmental operating fund budget proposed for 2016 is $27,058,352, a 3.8% increase compared to 2015. This budget was prepared with fiscally conservative values and a cautious approach to revenue estimates. Ms. Huschka was then asked to review the Mayor’s budget with Council. The 2016 budget does include a 1.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase for non-represented City employees and certain union groups. This budget utilizes $563,476 of unreserved fund balance in the Current Expense Fund budget. Ms. Huschka highlighted changes from the original budget that the Council had requested; $100,000 of the one-time jail sales tax revenue to be moved from a parking facility project to transportation, $100,000 is to be removed from the proposed City Shop Project and retained in REET I, and $50,000 to be added to professional services in Fund 118 Fiber Fund. Additionally there was a staff request to adjust the estimated cost for a video van purchase from $160,000 to $250,000 in the Equipment Replacement Fund where there are sufficient reserves to accommodate this request. There was also a request to create one additional full time position in the Street Department, if funding can be determined. Mr. Bell came forward with a listing of streets that need maintenance if the annual street overlay budget was given $100,000 more than the original budget. Ms. Huschka did a review of various scenarios for increasing revenue by increasing public utility taxes. Mayor Boudreau opened the public hearing. There being no comment Mayor Boudreau closed the public hearing. Mayor Boudreau then invited Councilmembers to direct questions to staff members that are present. • Councilmember Urban asked about the price difference in the budget and estimated cost of the video van. Mr. Bell explained how important that van is to the operations of the utility and Mr. Brickley indicated that the camera is a higher priced item than originally estimated. • Councilmember Hulst asked how a new Street Department employee would be utilized. Mr. Bell indicated that with the small crew that they have even one person calling in sick can imped the work on projects. The street maintenance projects would benefit by another employee. • Councilmember Hulst asked fellow Councilmembers to consider raising a public utility tax to help offset the private utility tax revenues that have been decreasing over that past several years. Councilmembers felt that a sewer tax rate increase of 1.5% would be desirable. Councilmember Lindquist suggested that they consider sun-setting the tax increase after one year if a Mount Vernon City Council November 24, 2015 Page 3 of 4 Transportation Benefit District is established which could provide new funding for street operations. Councilmember Hulst moved to raise sewer utility taxes 1.5% with a sunset of December 31, 2016. Motion seconded by Councilmember Fiedler. Motion carried 7- 0. Ms. Huschka stated that she will present Council with an ordinance in December at a future Council meeting to formalize the action approved by Council regarding the increase of the sewer utility tax. Councilmember Fiedler moved to add a street operator position to the 2016 budget. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion carried 7-0. Councilmember Urban moved to increase the Equipment Rental Reserve budget for a video van from $160,000 to $250,000. Motion seconded by Councilmember Ragan. Motion carried 7-0. Councilmember Hulst moved to adopt Ordinance 3669 adopting the 2016 budget as amended. Motion seconded by Councilmember Quam. Motion carried 7-0. • Councilmember Ragan wanted to discuss the modification of the salary schedule. He indicated that he didn’t think it addressed increases appropriately. • Councilmember Urban asked if having the Project and Policy Development Manager attend functions as a substitute for the Mayor is a conflict with the RCW whereby the Mayor Pro-temp should do this. Mr. Rogerson did not see those duties as being specifically outlined in the RCW as the wording is “…inability to perform duties”. The RCW does give the Mayor the power to appoint and delegate. Mayor Boudreau indicated that any meetings that would entail utilizing the power and authority of the city would not be the type of meeting this staff member would attend. Councilmember Lindquist asked that the position have the word “Policy” stricken from it. Mayor Boudreau agreed to change the title to Project Manager. Councilmember Urban asked that the job description be modified to state “as law allows” regarding attending meetings on the Mayor’s behalf. The Mayor was agreeable with this modification. The meeting was convened into executive session at 7:28 p.m. and was estimated to last 10 minutes. B. Executive Session: Pending litigation and potential real estate purchase. The meeting was reconvened at 7:38 p.m. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Mount Vernon City Council November 24, 2015 Page 4 of 4 SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Rebecca J. Wade, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Alicia D. Huschka, Finance Director APPROVE: ______________________________________________ Jill Boudreau, Mayor