City Council Committee Agendas

Development Services Committee Minutes March 20, 2024 Police Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place Councilmember Brocksmith called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present Mayor Donovan Councilmembers: Beaton, Brocksmith, Carias, Hudson, Molenaar, Tercero and Vander Stoep Staff: Finance Director Volesky, Special Projects Manager Sexton, Development Services Director Pratschner, Permit Technician Danielle Freiberger Citizens: 2 1. Approval of February 21, 2024 committee minutes Councilmember Vander Stoep moved to approve the February 21, 2024 committee minutes as amended. Motion seconded by Councilmember Beaton. Motion carried 7-0. 2. Development Services Monthly Report Ms. Pratschner said that some additional information has been added to the monthly report. Staff does not expect to meet the 1.5M 2024 adopted budget and will keep council updated. Pratschner gave an overview of staffing vacancies in the department as well as current projects that might be of interest to Council. 3. Review of Building Permit Fees There are five general categories of development fees as well as impact fees for new development, which are updated every year. The Comprehensive Plan update will project needs and costs of development based on population projections and evaluate the impact fee schedule. In permit cost comparisons between cities in Skagit County, Mount Vernon is comparable and not as high as some. 4. HB 1590 RFP Discussion Development Services Committee March 20, 2024 Page 2 of 2 Mr. Sexton reviewed the Council-recommended changes to the RFP. He is currently doing parallel review with City Attorney Rogerson- there are redlines but no substantive changes. There are a number of options for awarding the 1.7 million fund and Council needs to decide before the end of the year. There was discussion on Affordable Housing Committee composition which will be continued. 5. Miscellaneous Mr. Sexton is taking over research on the State mandated reduction of Public Defense caseloads. This will mean a 2/3 reduction and is intended to attract public defenders but could have serious cost repercussions for cities. Council to decide how to spend CDBG money between Community Action, Welcome Home Skagit, Helping Hands. Three council members met with staff on housing on how it will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Council requested looking into options for preventing manufactured home parks from radical cost increases intended to force out tenants to sell to developers. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm. Submitted by: Danielle Freiberger Permit Technician