City Council Worksession

TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 11, 2023 Page 1 CONVENE: 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Debbie Sullivan and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Joan Cathey, Leatta Dahlhoff, Angela Jefferson, Charlie Schneider, and Eileen Swarthout. Excused: Councilmember Michael Althauser. Staff: City Administrator Lisa Parks, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Community Development Director Michael Matlock, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Fire Chief Brian Hurley, Water Resources and Sustainability Director Dan Smith, Communications Manager Ann Cook, IT Manager Lance Inman, and Executive Assistant/Deputy City Clerk Hanna Miles. ILA FOR CASCADE Mayor Sullivan noted the agenda includes one action item because of recent PACIFIC ACTION agenda changes due to the cancellation of some recent meetings. ALLIANCE REGIONAL OPIOID City Administrator Parks briefed members on the proposed request and ABATEMENT action. COUNCIL AND ILA FOR THURSTON Nationally, several settlements were litigated with manufacturers of opioids. COUNTY OPIOID The One WA Agreement requires participating jurisdictions to establish ABATEMENT regional Opioid Abatement Councils (OAC). Tumwater is part of the COUNCIL Cascade Pacific Action Alliance Region comprised of seven counties. The INDEPENDENT jurisdictions agreed to create secondary Opioid Abatement Council for each SUBCOMMITTEE: county. The proposed action involves two interlocal agreements delegating the two Opioid Abatement Councils as per the One Washington Agreement requirements. Councilmember Swarthout asked how the county’s Opioid Abatement Council differs from the existing Thurston County Opioid Task Force. City Attorney Kirkpatrick replied that the OACs serve one purpose to ensure the funds are utilized appropriately and field complaints if someone registers a complaint about the inappropriate use of the funds. The intent is for the OAC to meet once annually to review the use of the funds. Establishment of the Thurston County OAC is required by the One Washington Agreement no later than June 30, 2023. Councilmember Swarthout questioned whether each city is required to appoint a representative to serve on the Thurston County OAC. City Attorney Kirkpatrick affirmed the requirement with four officials representing each city and Thurston County. Councilmember Swarthout asked about the funding amount the City received. City Attorney Kirkpatrick explained that the first distribution was approximately $22,000. The second distribution is anticipated to be approximately a similar amount. Distributions will continue over the next 15 years ranging between $21,000 and $30.000. The years of distribution will be TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 11, 2023 Page 2 different because of the way the settlements were structured. The intent is for the cities and the county to work together to utilize the funds; however, there is no requirement for a joint regional effort. The agreement requires the City to use the funds for opioid education, response, treatment, housing, or law enforcement. Councilmember Dahlhoff asked about the timing for assignment of the City’s representative. City Attorney Kirkpatrick said the timeline has not been identified; however, the organization must be established immediately to include appointment of the City’s representative. MOTION: Councilmember Dahlhoff moved, seconded by Councilmember Swarthout, to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Regional Agreement of the Cascade Pacific Action Alliance Region Participating Local Governments and the Interlocal Agreement for Opioid Abatement Council Independent Subcommittee in substantially similar form as approved by the City Attorney. A voice vote unanimously approved the motion. MAYOR/CITY City Administrator Parks commended City staff for the successful 4th of July ADMINISTRATOR’S celebration. It was her first attendance to the parade, festival, and the REPORT: fireworks show. The event was well planned, organized, and executed. She received many positive communications from food vendors commending Parks and Recreation staff for the smooth operation. She commented on her observation of the great teamwork across all departments within the City to plan and execute the events. City Administrator Parks reported the Council had previously approved a grant agreement with the Department of Commerce for a Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program grant. The federal grant was awarded jointly to the City and Habitat for Humanity for a housing project in Tumwater. Habitat for Humanity recently completed infrastructure work for water, sewer, and stormwater service. The City reimbursed Habitat for Humanity for $726,984.00 (grant amount) for completing the infrastructure project. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mayor Sullivan adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m. Prepared by Valerie L. Gow, Recording Secretary/President Puget Sound Meeting Services, psmsoly@earthlink.net