City Council

City of Mount Vernon City Council Meeting Minutes November 12, 2025 Police Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place Mayor Pro-Tempore Beaton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present Councilmembers: Beaton, Molenaar, Tercero, Vander Stoep Absent Brocksmith, Carías, Hudson (excused) Staff: Special Projects Manager Sexton, Finance Director Volesky, City Attorney Rogerson, Parks and Recreation Director Berner, Human Resources Director Keator, Fire Chief Harris, Library Director Huffman, Development Services Director Pratschner, City Clerk Jensen, Public Works Director Phillips Citizens: 9 APROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented. COMMUNITY COMMENTS  Ed Johnson, Mount Vernon resident, spoke about the process for obtaining a US VISA, law enforcement, and the Constitution.  Gerry Douglas, Mount Vernon resident, spoke about the Mount Vernon Senior Center. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of October 22, 2025, Regular Council Meeting minutes B. Approval of September 30, 2025, Special Meeting minutes C. Approval of November 5, 2025, Payroll checks numbered 113199 - 113214, direct deposit checks numbered 109688 - 109949, and wire transfers numbered 1509 - 1513 in the amount of $1,301,967.94 D. Approval of November 12, 2025, Claims numbered 31780 - 31994, in the amount of $2,310,839.70 E. Approval of Agreements – HB1590 Grant Funding recipients Mount Vernon City Council November 12, 2025 Page 2 of 3 F. Approval of Agreement – OpenGov, Inc. G. Approval of Agreement – Vaux House H. Approval of Agreement – Little Mountain House I. Approval of Agreement Amendment – Coffman Engineers, Inc. J. Approval of Agreement Amendment – Cowling and Company, LLC dba Widener & Associates K. Approval of Agreement Amendment – HDR Engineering, Inc. L. Approval of Agreement – Skagit County M. Approval of Ordinance 3924 Councilmember Tercero moved to approve Consent Agenda Items A – M Motion seconded by Councilmember Vander Stoep. Motion passed 4-0. REPORTS A. Councilmember Comments  none B. Mayor’s Report  none NEW BUSINESS A. Public Hearing – 2026 Property Tax Levy: Mr. Volesky reviewed the revenue sources for the 2026 Budget. Estimated total revenue included in the 2026 Preliminary Budget is $93,131,951. This is an increase of $2,734,928 or 3.0% from the City’s 2025 budgeted revenue amount. This increase is due mainly to a citizen voted property tax levy lid lift, Proposition No. 1 – Levy for Basic Public Safety, Essential Service and Improvements, which is estimated to be a $4,530,245 increase. Total taxes increased $6,118,100 from the budgeted 2025 revenue amounts. This increase also includes an estimated $650,000 for HB2015 Public Safety Sales and Use Tax that must be used for criminal justice purposes such as the city’s Public Defense contract. Mayor-Pro Tempore Beaton opened the Public Hearing.  Ed Johnson, Mount Vernon resident, spoke about property tax exemptions for disabled and senior property owners. The being no additional comments, Mayor-Pro Tempore Beaton closed the public hearing. B. Approval of Agreement Amendment – Scott Wall Construction: Ms. Mount Vernon City Council November 12, 2025 Page 3 of 3 Berner requested approval of an amendment to Agreement 4800 with Scott Wall Construction for additional electrical work for the Bakerview Restroom Renovation Project. Councilmember Vander Stoep moved to approve an amendment to Agreement 4800 with Scott Wall Construction in the amount of $12,345.05. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion passed 4-0. C. Approval of Ordinances – Municipal Code Chapter 6.04 and 6.08: Mr. Rogerson requested approval of updates to Chapters 6.04 and 6.08 of the Municipal Code. Key amendments are removal of licensing requirements for cats and dogs and replacing them with chipping and vaccination requirements. Councilmember Vander Stoep moved to amend Municipal Code Chapter 6.04, Animal Control with Ordinance 3925, and Chapter 6.08, Dangerous Dogs with Ordinance 3926. Motion seconded by Councilmember Tercero. Motion passed 4-0. D. Meeting Cancellation – November 25, 2025 Councilmember Tercero moved to cancel the November 25, 2025 City Council Meeting. Motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Motion passed 4-0. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m. Submitted by: Becky Jensen, City Clerk Approved: December 17, 2025