City Council

CITY OF MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA June 8, 2022, 7:00 p.m. Police Court Campus 1805 Continental Place 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. 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 June 8, 2022.) 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.) III. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of May 25, 2022 Regular Council Meeting Minutes B. Approval of June 1, 2022 Study Session Minutes C. Approval of June 5, 2022 payroll checks numbered 111425 - 111446 direct deposit checks numbered 88247 - 88494 and wire transfers numbered 1100 - 1104 in the amount of $1,059,272.03 D. Approval of June 8, 2022 Claims numbered 17800 – 17801 and 17810 - 17909 in the amount of $816,796.45. IV. REPORTS A. Committees 1. Public Works and Library 2. Public Safety B. Councilmember Comments C. Mayor’s Report Mount Vernon City Council Agenda June 8, 2022 Page 2 D. Committee Agenda Requests V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Mount Vernon Downtown Association Update (Mount Vernon Downtown Association Director Ellen Gamson will provide an update of recent developments in the downtown business community.) (required action – none) (staff contact – Peter Donovan) B. Approval of Agreement – Skagit County (Staff is requesting approval of an interlocal agreement with Skagit County for vegetation maintenance of the Maddox Creek Restoration Project.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Blaine Chesterfield) C. Approval of Redistricting Plan (Staff is requesting approval a Redistricting Plan to balance the population within the City’s voting districts.) (required action – ordinance) (staff contact – Peter Donovan) D. Consideration of Real Property Donation (Staff is requesting consideration of the donation of a parcel of land located at 401 S. LaVenture Road.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Jennifer Berner) E. Solid Waste Rate Study Update (Staff is requesting approval of an ordinance correcting the solid waste temporary container fees.) (required action – ordinance) (staff contact – Chris Phillips ) F. Approval of Agreement – Mount Vernon Fire Station No. 3 Renovation (Staff is requesting approval of a bid award and agreement with Trico Construction for the Mount Vernon Fire Station No. 2 Renovation project.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Bryan Brice ) G. Approval of Agreement – Mount Vernon IAFF Battalion Chief Collective Bargaining Agreement (Staff is requesting approval of a Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Mount Vernon IAFF Battalion Chief Bargaining Unit.) (required action – motion) (staff contact – Erin Keator ) COMMITTEE MEETINGS Public Works and Library 6:00 p.m. Next Ordinance 3850 Next Resolution 1014  AGENDA ITEM: A DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Peter Donovan, Special Projects Manager SUBJECT: MOUNT VERNON DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE RECOMMENDED ACTION: None INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The Mount Vernon Downtown Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that strives to serve as the voice of Downtown Mount Vernon. The Association holds that our historic downtown district is the heart of our community; and they work to support, develop, and build vibrance in Downtown Mount Vernon through promotion, advocacy, outreach, and celebration. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: Ellen Gamson is the executive director of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association and will be updating City Council on the Downtown Association’s recent projects. RECOMMENDATION: None ATTACHED: None  AGENDA ITEM: B DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Blaine Chesterfield, Engineering Manager SUBJECT: INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH SKAGIT COUNTY FOR THE MADDOX CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends council authorize the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Skagit County which allows for the vegetation maintenance of the Maddox Creek Restoration Project. The City’s contribution of funds will be in the amount of $5,000. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The purpose of this Agreement is for on-going vegetation maintenance which is part of the County and City cooperative work on the Maddox Creek Culvert Removal and Stream Restoration Project. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: • The culvert removal was completed in 2020 and opened 2 miles of fish habitat. • There is an Ecology requirement for 10-years of maintenance with an 80% survival rate for the vegetation planted along Maddox Creek. • Maintenance will be on-going for eight more years. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Council approve the Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Skagit County and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement. ATTACHED: Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Skagit County  AGENDA ITEM: C DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Peter Donovan, Special Projects Manager SUBJECT: REDISTRICTING ORDINANCE RECOMMENDED ACTION: Ordinance INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The City is required to review, and if necessary revise, its voting districts (wards) with each new decennial census data. 2020 census data revealed population growth in Mount Vernon, as well as an imbalance of population among wards 2 and 3. The ideal balanced population within each of the City’s three wards would be 11,740 persons per ward, with an allowable variance of +/- 5%. The City contracted with a renowned demographer to determine an effective and practical plan for rebalancing its districts. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: The City’s demographer recommended transferring a portion of Ward 3 into Ward 2. The area to be moved is demonstrated in Appendix A of the attached Ordinance. A draft plan for redistricting was presented to City Council on Wednesday, May 11th. A public hearing date, and a comment period, was announced on May 12th. A public hearing was held during a May 25th City Council meeting. No written or verbal comments were received by the City for the proposed redistricting plan. RECOMMENDATION: To accept the proposed plan, and to rebalance the City’s voting districts; staff recommends a Council Ordinance (#3850) to amend MV Municipal Code Chapter 1.12 setting forth the designation of City Council Ward Boundaries. ATTACHED: Ordinance 3850  AGENDA ITEM: D City of MOUNT VERNON DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Jennifer Berner, Director, Parks and Enrichment Services SUBJECT: OFFER TO DEED PROPERTY AT 410 S. LAVENTURE RD. TO CITY OF MOUNT VERNON RECOMMENDED ACTION: The staff and Mayor strongly recommend declining the offer from Pacific Coast Management Group to deed the property at 410 Laventure Road to the City of Mount Vernon. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Pacific Coast Management Group is offering to deed 2.63 acres of land located at 401 S. Laventure Road to the City of Mount Vernon. The entire property is encumbered by wetlands. Staff had Dr. Lee, City's Wetland Biologist, review the wetland delineation and it has been determined the site is not a candidate for the City's ecosystem alternative program because it is already forested. Additionally, there is little potential in terms of critical area functions that can be achieved with mitigation activities on the site. When the City takes on property into the City's ecosystem alternative program a baseline is established for functions and then the City monitors these functions over time as we complete mitigation (planting, weed removal, etc.). The City is required to demonstrate that our mitigation efforts result in the same or greater functions on a site. If the City cannot show the same, or increased, functions being created on the City owned sites our buffer buy-down program (ecosystem alternative) would be in jeopardy. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: None RECOMMENDATION: Motion to decline the offer from Pacific Coast Management Group to deed the property at 410 Laventure Road to the City. ATTACHED: Memo and Report from Pacific Coast Management Group  AGENDA ITEM: E DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Chris Phillips, Public Works Director SUBJECT: ORDINANCE TO CHANGE SOLID WASTE SERVICES RATES RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Section 8.12.120 of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code which will revise garbage rates effective June 1, 2022. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The City Council approved the collection rate method on March 2, 2022. Bell and Associates noted an error in the Temporary Container Fees and notified the City on May 26, 2022. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: Public Hearing notices were published on February 23, 2022, and March 2, 2022. No comments were received. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that Council adopt an ordinance revising solid waste service rates to be effective June 1, 2022. ATTACHED: Ordinance  AGENDA ITEM: F DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Bryan Brice, Fire Chief SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION WITH TRICO RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that Council adopt the professional services agreement for services with Trico and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The Mount Vernon Fire Department is responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue services, fire prevention and investigation, as well as Emergency Management for the City. Our firefighters respond to over 7,000 emergency and non-emergency calls each year. Fire, EMS and rescue services are dispatched from three stations with the oldest one built in 1964 and the newest in 1998, the three stations are strategically located around the geographical center of the city. Our stations house engine companies, a ladder truck, ambulances, brush unit, as well as reserve engines and reserve ambulances. Station 2 is also home to the Battalion Chief and our administrative staff. Due to the age of Fire Station 1 and the aging of Stations 2 and 3, the council gave support to analyzing our needs for our stations now and into the future. To accomplish this Council authorized a needs assessment in September 2018. Mount Vernon sought a professional architectural firm to perform phase I (needs assessment) and II (design and engineering) of a project for the replacement of station 1 and the needs assessment for stations 2 & 3. This project included a review of existing conditions at Stations 2 and 3, identified current and future space and operational needs, prepared conceptual design, forecast construction and total project costs for a new station 1 and renovations to stations 2 & 3. In addition, the design consultant assisted in gathering stakeholder input as it relates to the need’s assessment. Phase II of the project consists of design and engineering along with preparing construction documents, permitting, bid assistance, and construction contract administration services for stations 2 and 3. Work has continued for the architecture and design for renovation of fire stations 2 and 3. This process is nearing completion for station 3, with awarding of a construction firm being one of the final steps. The construction phase of the project requires a detailed understanding of construction process, standards, regulations, and codes. In addition, there are numerous inspections and materials testing needed during the construction phase. To assist the city with this we have retained KBA for construction management. With the assistance from our architectural firm, Mackenzie, a competitive bid process was implemented and advertised for construction firms to submit bids to perform the renovation construction work. This process opened on April 22, 2022 and closed on May 27, 2022. This process used the city’s procurement software, Open Gov, to advertise, share needed documents, and provide answers to questions from construction firms. This information summarizes the results of our bid process: • Open Gov site followers – 34 participants • Document downloads – 42 • Number of bidders – 3 • Range of bids – $4,317,184 to $4,959,835.05 The submitted bids were reviewed by a team consisting of the city, KBA and Mackenzie to determine the lowest responsive bidder. The funding for the project (and for the station 2 renovation) will be through a bond (see attached bond approval timeline and schedule). Staff is recommending that council approve a bond for the total cost of both projects ($12,000,000) with a 20-year payback time frame. The approximate cost for the bond payment will be $842,000. The revenue for the bond will be provide through ambulance transport revenue, more specifically funds received from the GEMT reimbursement. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: Based on the competitive bid process and review of the submitted bids it was determined that Trico at a bid price of $4,317,184 was the lowest responsive bidder. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that Council adopt the professional services agreement for services with Trico and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract. ATTACHED: Professional Services Agreement Bond Timeline  AGENDA ITEM: G DATE: June 8, 2022 TO: Mayor Boudreau and City Council FROM: Erin Keator, Human Resources Director SUBJECT: IAFF BATTALION CHIEF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to sign the IAFF Battalion Chief collective bargaining agreement for January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The IAFF Battalion Chief collective bargaining agreement expired on December 31, 2021. The City and the Union began contract negotiations in November of 2021 and reached an agreement for a three year contract. The Union voted to approve the agreement in May 2022. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: Three year contract Increase differential between top step firefighter and Battalion Chief to 39% effective the first of the month following approval of the CBA; the Fire Prevention Battalion Chief will maintain a 2% differential above the Shift Battalion Chief. Remove the education incentive effective the first of the month following approval of the CBA. City will pay 100% of the premiums for employee medical insurance effective the first of the month following approval of the CBA. Increase sick leave to 14 hours per month. Increase deferred compensation contribution from 3.5% to 4.0% Increase MERP contribution from $47.00 to $50.00 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to sign the IAFF Battalion Chief collective bargaining agreement for January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. ATTACHED: Click here to enter text.