City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes July 23, 2014 Present: Councilmembers Molenaar, Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Quam, Ragan, Urban, and Mayor Boudreau Staff present: Finance Director Alicia Huschka, Economic Development Director Jana Hanson, Public Works Director Bell, Parks and Recreation Director Otos, Parks Supervisor Weppler, City Attorney Kevin Rogerson and Police Chief Dodd Finance 1. June 25, 2014 committee minutes were approved. 2. Financial Update:  Sales tax collected from January to June of 2014 is up 6% from the same period in 2013. Construction sales tax contributed 28% of the increase.  Criminal Justice Sales Tax from January to June 2014 is up 1.3% from the same period in 2013.  Building Permits from January to June is down 7% from the same period in 2013; however, it is trending slightly ahead of 2014 budget estimates.  Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) from January to June is down 18% from the same period in 2013; however, it is slightly ahead of annual budget projections.  Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax from January to June is up 3.8% from the same period in 2013. 3. Review of comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for year ending 12/31/13.  Alicia provided the Committee with a review of the of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended December 31, 2013, including a review of the schedules included in the statistical section of the document. The 2013 CAFR and prior year reports are available on the City’s website under the Finance Department section. 4. Restroom Project Update and other, Larry Otos:  Larry Otos provided the Committee with an update on the estimated cost of the downtown public restroom project after receiving preliminary cost estimates from Peter Carletti of Carletti Architects. The cost estimates and potential funding options were discussed, as the estimates are higher than originally planned for. Further work will be performed including looking at new construction costs versus the remodel project.  James Weppler gave an update on the Little Mountain Annexation. The City property will be included in this annexation process. 5. Esco Bell provided a brief review of the environmental impact statement letter the City will be providing Skagit County for the Draft GI Study. The Committee indicated a desire to pass a resolution in support of the letter to be drafted and sent by the City of Mount Vernon Finance & Economic Development Committees July 23, 2014 Page 2 City’s Public Works Director. Economic Development 6. Comprehensive Plan Update.  Jana reviewed all elements of the Comprehensive Plan that will require updating in 2015. The adoption of the Comp Plan must be completed by June 30, 2016. Also included will be a new element; Health and Wellness. 7. Jail Essential Public Facility (EPF) Review Process:  Jana said that next Tuesday is the Hearing Examiner meeting after which the process will move forward to City Council in September for a final decision. Adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Submitted by Lori J. Kimbriel