City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes July 29, 2015 Present: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Quam, Ragan and Urban Staff Present: Finance Director Huschka, City Attorney Rogerson, Community Development Director Hyde, Development Review Engineering Manager Chesterfield, GIS Engineer Nathe, Code Compliance Officer Lee, Senior Planner Lowell, Police Chief Dodd Councilmember Hulst brought the committee meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Senior Planner Rebecca Lowell gave the committee an update on the fee schedule that Council formally approved in July. Two fees were inadvertently left off the fee schedule th which had been previously discussed. Ms. Lowell will bring these forward at the August 12 council meeting for formal council approval. 2. Code Enforcement Update: Code Compliance Officer Ken Lee gave the committee an update on code enforcement activities in the city. One of the topics discussed was junk cars on city streets. The committee inquired what the turn-around time is on a complaint. Mr. Lee stated that typically complaints are handled the same day or soon thereafter. Mr. Rogerson addressed the committee regarding ways to enforce the majority of the non-criminal provisions in the City Code, which were revamped several years ago. The Mayor asked Mr. Rogerson to address the difference between civil infractions and criminal infractions and how they are handled. Mr. Rogerson explained the differences between these infractions and the processes involved. Councilmember Hulst asked if there are elements we can add to our city code to assist with enforcement. Mr. Rogerson and Mr. Lee addressed this question. th 3. Street Vacation near Broadway and South 15 Streets: GIS Engineer Doug Nathe explained to the committee that an application has been submitted th to vacate an alley near S. 15 Street which will create additional parking spaces. This item will be presented at an August council meeting for action. 4. Pre-Budget 2016 Discussion: Mayor Boudreau and Finance Director Alicia Huschka addressed the committee with a pre- budget 2016 discussion. Ms. Huschka reviewed with the committee major budget considerations that will need to be addressed as part of the 2016 budget process, with a focus on major impacts to revenues and expenditures. Mayor Boudreau presented the committee with a 2015 strategic goals work plan document that provided detailed information on the strategic goals developed and adopted by City Council in 2015. Mayor Boudreau asked the Committee if there were any specific things they want addressed in the 2016 budget process. Mr. Hulst said he would first like to review the documents. Mr. Fielder asked if there is a plan for 2016. There is a draft that the Mayor has and will place in the Council’s drive for review and consideration.  Mayor Boudreau updated the Committee on some objectives in the 2016 work plan: NMTC application, Phase III construction of the downtown flood protection project, asset management, ADA compliance, healthy neighborhoods and addressing homelessness and vagrancies, comp plan, downtown design standards, and other items. Dale Ragan asked that looking at our inventory of properties be evaluated, and which should be considered for surplus included in the 2016 work plan. Mr. Fiedler also said that we should consider parcels that we may want to add for future public needs. The meeting concluded at 7:10 p.m. _____________________________________________ Submitted by Alicia D. Huschka