HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 03-17-25,r
Council Chambers
110 East 3rd Street
Monday, March 17, 2025
Minutes of the Arlington
City Council Meeting
Councilmembers Present: Heather Logan, Rob Toyer, Debora Nelson, Michele Blythe
Leisha Nobach, Jan Schuette and Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, who joined with Teams.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Sheri Amundson, Jim Kelly, Mike Gilbert,
Attorney Oskar Rey, Dave Kraski, Rory Bolter, Seth Kinney, Chelsea Brewer, and Julie
Petersen.
Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Ellis Nobach, Nathan Senff, Holly
Sloan -Buchanan, Steve Maisch, Tim Abrahamson, Jay Lindberg, and others.
Mayor Don Vanney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and the Pledge of Allegiance and
roll call followed.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved to approve the revised agenda removing Item #1
Resolution Declaring Property as Surplus. Councilmember Debora Nelson seconded the
motion, which passed with a unanimous vote.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
PROCLAMATIONS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Holly Sloan -Buchanan, Arlington, provided comment.
Jay Lindberg, Arlington, provided comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Debora Nelson seconded the
motion to approve the changed Consent Agenda that was unanimously carried:
1. Minutes of the March 3, 2025 Council meeting
2. Accounts Payable: Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #112832 through
#112932 dated February 19 through March 3, 2025 for $741,525.17 and approval of
Payroll EFT Payments and Check #30425 through #30430 dated February 1 through
February 28, 2025 in the amount of $1,507,490.86.
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting March 17 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Public Safety Staffing
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve a member of the patrol team to be
the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission training officer located at the
new police training center in Arlington. This is a three-year agreement; salary and benefits
are reimbursed for the training officer. City Council is being asked to approve a three-year
temporary position to backfill the opening created by the training officer appointment.
The location of the new training center and appointment of an Arlington officer is creating
a great partnership and collaboration for additional officer training. Discussion followed
with Mr. Ellis answering Council questions.
Councilmember Rob Toyer moved, and Councilmember Heather Logan seconded the
motion to approve the hiring of an additional full-time police officer for up to three years to
backfill the appointment of a training officer to the WSCJTC. The motion passed
unanimously.
Public Defense Conflict Counsel Services
City Attorney Oskar Rey requested Council approve the contract that provides for public
defense services to indigent criminal defendants in cases where the City's primary public
defender, Feldman & Lee, P.S., has a conflict of interest. The City will pay a monthly rate for
Snohomish County Public Defender Association (SCPDA) to handle up to 38 conflict cases
from March 2025 through June 2026. The parties will have the option of renewing the
contract annually from that point on, with future contract rates based on the usage during
prior contract periods.
The monthly rate for the remainder of 2025 will be $3,954.91, and the rate for the first half
of 2026 will be $4,341. This rate includes attorney time along with services that SCPDA
provides in-house, such as investigators, social workers, and some translators. If additional
expert services are approved by the Court, SCPDA will bill them separately. At this point,
SCPDA estimates that those additional services will range from $4,000 to $10,000 annually,
but this amount will be easier to estimate in future contract periods when there is actual
cost data available. Discussion followed with Assistant Finance Director Sheri Amundson
answering Council questions.
Mayor Pro Tem Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Rob Toyer seconded the
motion to approve the agreement with Snohomish County Public Defender Association for
public defender conflict counsel services and authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement.
The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution Declaring an Emergency for the Hauling of Biosolids
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested that Council declare an emergency condition in
response to current disruption with the current biosolids hauling contractor and waive bid
requirements allowing staff to contract with an alternate licensed contractor. Discussion
followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions.
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting_ March 17, 2025
Councilmember Debora Nelson moved, and Councilmember Heather Logan seconded the
motion to approve the resolution declaring an emergency condition exists regarding the
hauling of Water Reclamation Facility generated biosolids thereby waiving public bid
requirements and allowing staff to directly contract with a licensed biosolids hauler, and
authorized the Mayor to sign the resolution, pending final approval by the City Attorney.
The motion passed unanimously.
Contract Amendment with Boulder Park, Inc. as Biosolids Beneficial Use Facility
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested that Council amend the existing contract with
Boulder Park, Inc. (BPI) for the land application of biosolids that will include Mayor Don
Vanney as the prime signatory because the Public Works Director contracted with a DOE
licensed land application facility to remove this accumulated biohazard. These contracts
were limited in value to the Public Works Director's signing authority. Discussion followed
with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions.
Councilmember Heather Logan moved, and Councilmember Debora Nelson seconded the
motion to amend the contract with Boulder Park, Inc., and designate Mayor Don Vanney as
the City's signatory for this contract. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Gallardo-Van Ornam provided comments about the National League of
Cities Congressional City Conference she attended.
ADMINISTRATOR & STAFF REPORTS
City Administrator Paul Ellis stated staff is working on the spring retreat slides and he will
get materials to the Councilmembers soon.
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Vanney provided comments about the National League of Cities Congressional City
Conference he attended.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
Y
Da . anney, Mayor
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