HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 01-03-22: - Minutes of the Arlington
City Council Zoom Meeting
Monday, January 3, 2022
Councilmembers Present: Michele Blythe, Jan Schuette, Debora Nelson, Marilyn Oertle,
Heather Logan, Don Vanney and Mike Hopson.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Mayor Barb Tolbert, Paul Ellis, Dave Ryan, Marc Hayes, Jim Kelly, Kris
Wallace, City Attorney Steve Peiffle, Tony Orr, Julie Petersen, and Wendy Van Der Meersche.
Also Known to be Present: Twenty-five YouTube viewers.
Mayor Barb Tolbert called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and the Pledge of Allegiance and
roll call followed.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Jan Schuette moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember
Marilyn Oertle seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
PROCLAMATIONS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Jan Schuette moved and Councilmember Marilyn Oertle seconded the motion
to approve the Consent Agenda that was unanimously carried:
1. Minutes of the December 6 and December 13, 2021 Council meetings
2. Accounts Payable:
Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #104299 through #104422, dated
December 7, 2021 through December 20, 2021 for $1,634,817.69; Approval of Payroll EFT
Payments and Checks #30133 through #30143, dated November 1, 2021 through
November 30, 2021 for $1,267,297.29; Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks:
#104423 through #104488 dated December 21, 2021 through
December 30, 2021 for $1,171,720.80; #104489 through #104498 dated
January 1, 2022 through January 3, 2022 for $38,565.54.
3. Contract with Pacific Groundwater Group for services associated with the Haller Wellfield
Improvement Project
Page 1 of 4
Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 3 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Pole Attachment Agreement with Public Utility District No. 1of Snohomish County
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve the agreement to allow the City to
install fiber on their poles in areas where no fiber conduit is available.
Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County owns the majority of the utility poles
within the City of Arlington. Many different vendors attach to these poles to provide utility
services such as cable TV, telephone service and dark fiber. By signing this agreement, it
gives the City the authority to lease space and install fiber on poles where available to
supplement in areas where fiber conduit is not available. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis
answering Council questions.
Councilmember Debora Nelson moved and Councilmember Don Vanney seconded the
motion to approve the pole attachment license agreement with Public Utility District No. 1
of Snohomish County, and authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement. The motion passed
unanimously.
Contract with Arlington Community Resource Center
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve the contract for community
support services.
Staff is requesting approval of a contract with the Arlington Community Resource Center
(ACRC) to provide capacity funding in order to meet an increase in demand for services
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract is for a three-year period for an
amount not to exceed $360,000. The ACRC will hire a senior support specialist and a
support specialist who will provide case management to those individuals experiencing
barriers to housing and employment. The focus will be on those individuals most impacted
by the pandemic. Council previously approved budget for this project, however, city policy
requires any contract over $150,000 to be approved by Council.
On September 20, 2021, Council approved a budget for initial distributions of American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury. As part of
that budget, $360,000 was designated to the Arlington Community Resource Center.
Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis answering Council questions.
Mayor Pro Tern Jan Schuette moved and Councilmember Michele Blythe seconded the
motion to approve the contract with the Arlington Community Resource Center for an
amount not to exceed $360,000 and authorized the Mayor to sign it. The motion passed
unanimously.
Resolution of the Arlington Airport Commission relating to Consumer Price Indexed
leases at the Arlington Municipal Airport
Airport Director Dave Ryan requested Council ratify a resolution approved by the Airport
Commission. Each year, the Airport Commission is required to approve a resolution for
Page 2 of 4
Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 3.2022
changing fees and charges at the airport. The required five-year appraisal was completed,
and the Airport has the Consumer Price Index for 2021 (CPI 5.2%). Those figures are
included in this year's resolution. Most airport property values are based on the appraisal,
but the CPI adjusts buildings owned by the airport. Staff recommends approval.
While business leases require the Airport to raise the rates by the local CPI each year, last
year Airport did not raise the hangar rates due to the current COVID-19 crisis. In addition to
the CPI rate increase, land rates will go up by $0.01 per square foot. Discussion followed with
Mr. Ryan answering Council questions.
Councilmember Michele Blythe moved and Councilmember Marilyn Oertle seconded the
motion to ratify the Resolution of the Arlington Airport Commission Relating to Consumer
Price Indexed Leases at the Arlington Municipal Airport, and the increases in airport fees as
set forth therein. The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution for a "Center of Excellence" to be established within the northwest
portion of the Airport Business Park
Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes requested Council approve a
resolution to establish an area of approximately 25 acres within the northwest portion of
the Airport Business Park, as the "Center of Excellence."
The area would be reserved specifically for the construction of facilities that would support
the education, training, research/development, and employment support of advanced
manufacturing industries. With the majority of available land being leased for industrial
buildings, now more than ever, it is critical to reserve property in order to locate facilities
for higher education, research/development and industry training to support both current
and future employees as well as the industries that utilize this workforce.
The resolution was presented to Council a year ago with an illustrative map, showing how
the property could be utilized in a campus style setting. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes
answering Council questions.
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Schuette moved and Councilmember Don Vanney seconded the motion
to approve the resolution establishing the "Center of Excellence" within the northwest
portion of the Airport Business Park, and authorized the Mayor to sign the resolution. The
motion passed unanimously.
Ordinance establishing a water rate adjustment for customers outside the city limits
of Arlington
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested Council approve an ordinance proposing the
establishment of a utility rate schedule for water service outside city limits.
Since 1977, the City of Arlington has been in a Critical Water Service Area as designated by
Snohomish County in accordance with the Public Water System Coordination Act (RCW
70.116 and WAC 246-293). As such, the City has worked with other local water purveyors
to cooperatively establish water service areas. The City of Arlington's water service area
extends beyond Arlington's incorporated city limits.
Page 3 of 4
Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting - -January 3, 2022
Water service outside city limits is rural in character and less densely populated than
within city limits. With a less dense water service population outside city limits, the City
also recognizes that it is costlier for operations and maintenance of the water services
outside city limits; the water service area outside city limits has 11% of the water
distribution system and only 4% of the customer base.
To offset this increased cost of operations, many other municipalities charge a separate
water utility rate for water service in areas outside city limits. The City contracted with
Katy Isaksen and Associates, to perform an outside city limits utility rate study to
determine an appropriate outside city limits rate schedule to help defray the increase cost
of outside city limits water service.
Based on the rate study, staff recommends adoption of a water service schedule for outside
city limits water services. Discussion followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions.
Councilmember Debora Nelson moved and Councilmember Heather Logan seconded the
motion to approve the recommendation for the establishment of a water service rate
schedule for outside city limit water services and approve the ordinance adopting the new
rate schedule. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Schuette asked Airport Director Dave Ryan if Councilmembers could attend
the first flight of Eviation's electric aircraft. Mr. Ryan indicated that anyone is welcome, and
he will let Councilmembers now when it is scheduled.
Councilmember Hopson had questions regarding a cold weather shelter in Arlington.
Discussion followed with Mayor Tolbert, Councilmember Blythe. Councilmember Schuette
stated that Community Transit is providing free rides to cold weather shelters.
Councilmember Vanney praised the work of Maintenance and Operations keeping the streets
cleaned and plowed during the snow event.
ADMINISTRATOR & STAFF REPORTS
None.
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Tolbert wished Councilmembers a Happy New Year, and is excited about lots of new
things to work on in the New Year. She stated that legislative sessions are starting next week.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor
Page 4 of 4