City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon City Council Committee Meeting of the Whole Minutes January 30, 2013 Mayor Boudreau began the meeting at 6:16 p.m. Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Molenaar, Quam, Ragan and Urban Staff Present: Police Chief Dodd, Community and Economic Director Hanson, Finance Director Huschka, City Attorney Rogerson Citizens Present: 1 1. Jail Financing Discussion: Ms. Huschka presented Council with information on how much revenue the 0.1% sales tax measure would generate for the City of Mount Vernon if it were passed by voters, and some possible immediate public safety needs it might fulfill, including making up for the loss of liquor tax revenue, the expiration of the COPS grant, the reduction in the Police Department’s 2013 budget, and increased jail costs in 2013. Council reviewed information and discussed the City and County sales tax ballot measures and different scenarios for jail financing. Council agreed to establish a Jail Subcommittee composed of Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Hulst, Ragan and Lindquist, Police Chief Dodd, Finance Director Huschka, and City Attorney Rogerson to work with the County on a possible interlocal agreement for the financing of a new jail facility. Areas of discussion with the County could include financing contribution, governance, bed rate stability, levels of service, termination language, use of surplus or deficit sales tax dollars, and ballot measure title and content. 2. Municipal Code Updates Review Mr. Rogerson reviewed possible changes to the Municipal Code that will be coming before Council for action at the next Council meeting. The changes include adding gender neutral language, revising old language, and making changes regarding outdated practices. 3. Review of Action Items from June 23, 2012 Retreat Mayor Boudreau updated Council on the progress, and in some cases completion, of each action item from the June 2012 Council Retreat. Council decided to hold the next retreat on May 4, 2013. 4. Committee Structure Discussion Council agreed to continue with its current Committee structure, in which all Councilmembers are on every Committee, with a Chair and a 2nd Chair leading. Committee Meetings will begin taking place in a roundtable setting in the Police/Court Campus Multi-Purpose Room. This new format will be reviewed at the Council Retreat in May.  The Mayor announced proposed Council Committee assignments for 2013 and will distribute the new list to Council. It was agreed that Library would share a Committee with Parks and Recreation. Councilmember Quam will continue to be the Mayor’s alternate at Skagit County Community Action Board meetings. Councilmember Lindquist will continue to serve on the Northwest Clean Air Agency Board and Councilmember Molenaar agreed to be his alternate. Councilmember Ragan will continue to serve on the SKAT board, CVAA board and Jail Coordinating Council as alternate for Mayor Boudreau. Mayor Boudreau will move forward in organizing a special committee for labor negotiations. The Traffic Safety Committee is now meeting every other month rather than quarterly. There was discussion on the Model Traffic Ordinance that governs the Committee as well as possible Council involvement in this process. Mr. Rogerson will provide Council with a grid containing additional information on who has authority in various traffic safety matters. The issue will be discussed further at an upcoming Public Works Committee. 5. Pod Management Mayor Boudreau briefed Council on the pod management approach she has been developing over the past month. She has grouped directors into three pods: Economic Development, Public Safety, and Quality of Life. The groups held a series of meetings in January 2013 to share what they are doing now and establish collaborative goals for the future. Mayor Boudreau explained different plans and ideas that have evolved from each pod, and will email Council the final work plan when ready. 6. Miscellaneous Councilmember Ragan noted that the EMS commission has received a draft report from consultants. It will be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Mr. Rogerson spoke with the Council regarding a matter of attorney-client privilege. The meeting concluded at 8:42 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: ______________________________________________ Kerri Grechishkin, Recording Secretary