City Council

CITY OF MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA September 22, 2021, 7:00 p.m. Police Court Campus 1805 Continental Place (Masks are required regardless of vaccination status) To virtually attend the meeting, the public may: 1. Call the conference line: 1-888-924-9240; Access Code: 3366211 (please ‘mute’ your phone, if possible, to minimize distractions) 2. Watch the meeting live on TV10: Comcast/Xfinity Channel 10 3. Watch the meeting live, online: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUob_hcQUmd4S93YkletdrA I. OPENING CEREMONIES A. Call to Order B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Roll Call of Councilmembers II. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of September 8, 2021 Regular Council Meeting Minutes B. Approval of September 20, 2021 payroll checks numbered 110943 - 110962, direct deposit checks numbered 84129 - 84366, and wire transfers numbered 1015 - 1019 in the amount of $1,233,603.14. C. Approval of September 22, 2021 Claims numbered 15110and 15112 - 15263 in the amount of $2,582,476.23 III. REPORTS A. Committees 1. Finance & Parks and Enrichment Services 2. Public Safety B. Community Comments 1. Review of Emails from the Public (Public comments may be sent via email to council@mountvernonwa.gov. The comments will be read aloud into the record during the public comment portion of the agenda. Please limit your comments to be read in three minutes or less. Email comments must be received by 4 p.m. on September 22, 2021.) 2. Public Comments (This is an opportunity for Mount Vernon residents to address their City Council. Please limit comments to three minutes or less. Under normal circumstances, the Mayor and Council will not respond immediately to Community Comments. If you would like someone to follow-up with you regarding the topic of your comments, please leave your name and contact information on the form at the entrance of the Council Chambers.) Mount Vernon City Council Agenda September 22, 2021, Page 2 of 2 C. Councilmember Comments D. Mayor’s Report E. Committee Agenda Requests IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None V. NEW BUSINESS A. Approval of Agreement with Skagit Habitat for Humanity (Staff is requesting approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Skagit Habitat for Humanity to consolidate commitments from 2020-21 and 2021-22 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plans providing $200,000 in homeownership assistance funding to four qualifying households.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Peter Donovan) B. Approval of Agreement with Community Action of Skagit County (Staff is requesting approval of an agreement with Community Action of Skagit County for the use of CDBG funds to provide $56,184 for the provision of public services) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Peter Donovan) C. Approval of Agreement with Mountain Law (Staff is requesting approval of an addendum to agreement #3858 with Mountain Law to fund the services of an additional public defender.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Peter Donovan) D. Approval of Agreement with Axon (Staff is requesting approval of an agreement with Axon for the purchase of body cameras, tasers and related services.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Chief Cammock) COMMITTEE MEETINGS Finance & Parks and Enrichment Services 6:00 p.m. Next Ordinance 3837 Next Resolution 1001  ATENDA ITEM: A DATE: September 22, 2021 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Peter Donovan, Project Development Manager SUBJECT: CDBG AGREEMENT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve a consolidated MOU with Skagit Habitat for Humanity INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: In the City’s 2020-21 CDBG Action Plan, the City allocated $100,000 to Skagit Habitat to support Homeownership Assistance activities in cooperation with eligible low to moderate income individuals, families, and households. Again in the City’s 2021-22 CDBG Action Plan, an additional $100,000 has been allocated to Habitat. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: The proposed agreement simplifies record keeping efforts by consolidating those CDBG awards, now totaling $200,000 for homeownership assistance in the city of Mount Vernon. Skagit Habitat for Humanity intends to utilize this funding in 2022, upon the completion of their current four-home project located at the north east corner of Blackburn and LaVenture Roads. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the agreement with Skagit Habitat for Humanity, for the consolidation of CDBG awards, totaling $200,000 for homeownership assistance in Mount Vernon. ATTACHED: Proposed Contract Addendum  AGENDA ITEM: B DATE: September 22, 2021 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Peter Donovan, Project Development Manager SUBJECT: CDBG AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ACTION OF SKAGIT COUNTY RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve a CDBG agreement with Community Action of Skagit County INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: -Community Action will use this funding for their Housing & Resource Center program. This allotment of $56,184 represents 15% of the City’s total 2021-2022 CDBG award from HUD. -HUD has approved this expenditure. -The attached agreement memorializes all necessary requirements FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: This allotment is consistent with the Council-approved 2021-2022 CDBG Action Plan RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Community Action of Skagit County. ATTACHED: Proposed Agreement with Community Action of Skagit County  AGENDA ITEM: C DATE: September 22, 2021 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Peter Donovan, Project Development Manager SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO MOUNTAIN LAW CONTRACT RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve an addendum to the City’s contract with Mountain Law for Public Defense services INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The cities of Mount Vernon and Burlington have contracted together, in a 60-40% partnership, with Mountain Law for the provision of public defense services. The cities continue to maintain high standards for public defense services, including caseload limitations for its defense providers. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic has created a significant backlog in the courts, and as those suspended cases are now being assigned, it has become apparent that hiring an additional public defender within the Mountain Law organization is necessary to continue upholding the cities’ caseload standards. The proposed expense totals $125,000; of which the City of Mount Vernon could utilize ARPA funding for its $75,000 portion. The term of the contract is one year, with the option of extending the agreement on a month- to-month basis if additional services are necessary. The court backlog will be reviewed quarterly to determine whether the demand for an additional public defender continues to be warranted. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of a one-year contract addendum with Mountain Law to expand public defense services. ATTACHED: Proposed Contract Addendum  AGENDA ITEM: D DATE: September 14, 2021 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Police Chief Chris Cammock SUBJECT: MOTION AUTHORIZING MAYOR ENTER A SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR POLICE BODY WORN CAMERAS RECOMMENDED ACTION: REQUESTING COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A SERVICES AND PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH AXON FOR BODY CAMERAS/TASERS AND RELATED SERVICES SUBSTATIALLY IN THE FORM AS PRESENTED SUBJECT TO CITY ATTORNEY AND MAYOR FOR APPROVAL. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: HB1223 that passed during the 2021 Legislative Session requires police officers to audio and/or video record offenses involving juveniles and felony crimes involving adults. The law takes effect January 1, 2022 and body worn cameras are the only practical means to meet this requirement. The Police Department has researched several vendors and determined AXON the preferred service provider. The purchasing and services agreement would be a five-year contract to include cameras/Taser equipment, training, storage service and technical support. The total cost is $541,745.00 prorated over the five year period with some fluctuation if equipment for officers were added or removed. $104,701 in savings is expected from expenditures that will be replaced by this service agreement. The Legislature appropriated $144,307.00 to mitigate cost impacts due to new legislation. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: This equipment is necessary to perform required police duties and functions. RECOMMENDATION: Requesting the City Council authorize the Mayor to enter into a services and purchasing agreement with Axon subject to approval of the contract terms by the City Attorney. ATTACHED: