City Council Committee Agendas
Regular MeetingMount Vernon, WA · April 6, 2022
Minutes
Public Safety Meeting
Police Campus
April 6, 2022
Attendees
Council Members Mary Hudson, Mark Hulst, Melissa Beaton, Gary Molenaar, Iris Carias and
Juan Morales, Mayor Jill Bourdreau
Staff: Kevin Rogerson, Doug Volesky, Eric Keator, Chris Phillips, Jacob Milner, Morgan
Morrison, Barry Kerth, Bryan Brice, Christine Love Johnson
Absentees
Richard Brocksmith
Activities
Councilmember Beaton moved to approve the minutes from the March 2, 2022, Public Safety
Meeting, motion seconded by Councilmember Molenaar. Minutes adopted as written.
Presentations & Discussion
Fire Department Grant Application Updates – Bryan Brice
The Department received a grant award from the Department of Labor & Industries for
proper bunker gear storage at Fire Stations 2 and 3.
o This grant is a 1 to 1 match, with the total project award of $22,000. The City’s match
is $10,879.
o Staff has begun the process to purchase the approved items.
The 2022 Assistance to Firefighting Grant, through FEMA, has not yet been awarded.
2018 Fire Code Update – Barry Kerth
The adoption of the 2018 International Fire Code corrected many of the City’s codes, but
lacked clarity in a few areas
o In 2014, City Council passed an ordinance placing a fee to false fire alarms in excess
of 3 per calendar year. The intent of this ordinance was to encourage business
owners to maintain their fire and life safety systems but did not provide an outlet to
resolve disputes.
o The Fire Marshal’s Office is working closely with Development Services on a process
for the Hearing Examiner to also work with the Fire Department.
Current language in the Fire Code requires that businesses 2500 sq ft or greater are
required to install a fire alarm system in existing building when remodeling regardless of the
size of the remodel.
o This is resulting in businesses with small tenant improvements facing additional costs
greater than $10,000 to install a system.
o The Fire Marshal is working with the building department on language within the
building code to clearly identify when a fire alarm should be installed.
The Fire Marshal will be bringing both items to Council for discussion and approval in late
May, early June meetings.
GIS Support for Public Safety – Jacob Milner
Since 2020, the Geographic Information Systems Department (GIS) has been staffed with two
full-time FTEs and have been able to work on many Public Safety projects for our Police and
Fire Department.
Police projects have included: 911 Addressing, inter-active web maps to show homeless
encampments, trespass authorization parcels, and monthly incidents with active filters for
neighborhoods, months, shifts and more.
o GIS is working to integrate and map the downtown business camera to provide
officers with a comprehensive view of the city.
o 4th of July maps have assisted with targeted messaging in high utilizing areas for
fireworks over the past few years.
Fire maps show hydrants, lockboxes, and addressing information for complexes and trailer
parks.
o Drive time analysis maps have been instrumental in determining response plans and
the best units to dispatch for the quickest arrival of units.
o Currently working with the Fire Marshal to collect Pre-Incident Planning information
to develop a visual tool to assist our Firefighters during structure fires.
Non-Represented Rate Study – Erin Keator
All reference materials for the rate study can be found on the I drive at I:\Council\2022
Classification and Compensation Study. This information breaks out the mayor’s documents vs
the non-represented.
Council would like to focus on the employees immediately and have an implementation date of
May 1st. Council’s role is to determine the step for each position and will leave it to the Mayor’s
discretion to determine where to place each employee on the step chart.
The only position left to determine is the Fire Chief/Police Chief position. The discussion is set
on should the council adopt the recommendations of the consult or choose to move this position
into a higher step to eliminate the possibility of an Assistant Chief earning a higher wage due to
longevity. Council has three options to consider; accept the consultant’s recommendations,
bump the range to a higher step or adopt a policy.
The Mayor presented a historical look at the Mayor’s salary from 2001 to date. The Mayor’s
salary can either be set by a salary commission or by ordinance.
Action Items for upcoming meetings
Council would like staff to examine the cost of a laser-light fireworks show vs a traditional
show.
Council would like the Parks & Enrichment Director to examine the unintended
consequences of the new park fees on 501c3 utilizers.
Dean Snider to present at the April 27th council meeting.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for May 6th at 6:00 pm
Agenda
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
AGENDA
April 6, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
I. Approval of Minutes
II. Fire Department Grant Award
Presented by Fire Chief Bryan Brice
III. Updates to the MVMC Fire Alarm Code
Presented by Fire Marshal Barry Kerth
IV. GIS Support
Presented by Jacob Milner
V. Discussion of City Employee Classification and Compensation Study
Presented by Erin Keator
VI. For the good of the order
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