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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 11-23-20Minutes of the Arlington City Council Zoom Workshop November 23, 2020 Councilmembers Present: Mike Hopson, Marilyn Oertle, Debora Nelson, Don Vanney, Jan Schuette, Jesica Stickles and Michele Blythe. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Mayor Barb Tolbert, Paul Ellis, James Trefry, Kristin Garcia, Jim Kelly, Marc Hayes, City Attorney Steve Peiffle, and Ashleigh Scott. Also Known to be Present: (44) Forty -Four YouTube Views, Denise Stiffarm from Pacifica Law Group, Brian Lewis and Dale Leach from the Arlington School District, Peter Condyles, Josh Wills and Duana Kolouskova. Mayor Barb Tolbert called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm, and the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call followed. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Mayor Pro Tem Jesica Stickles 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. WORKSHOP ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN Ordinance Approving 2020 Budget Amendments Finance Director Kristin Garcia reviewed the Ordinance amending the 2020 budget and the 2020 proposed budget amendments. The majority of items have been previously approved by Council. Adopting the budget Ordinance is the official action to formally incorporate the adjustments into the budget. 91% of the amendments fall into 3 categories; bond refinancing, inter -fund transfers to reserve funds and capital projects/equipment purchases. 48% of all amendments are related to refinancing the City's 2007 and 2010 LTGO bonds and refinancing the Graafstra promissory note. And 19% of all amendments are related to inter -fund transfers (operating transfers to reserve funds or to capital funds to pay for projects and meet grant match requirements) and 23% of all amendments are for capital projects and/or equipment purchases which are paid for by grants and/or accumulated capital reserves. Page 1 of 6 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop November 23. 2020 A public hearing will be held December 7, 2020 to allow for public comment on the proposed budget amendments. Council will be asked to take action on the proposed budget amendments following the public hearing. On November 19, 2018, the Council adopted Ordinance 2018-008 establishing the 2019/2020 budget. On December 16, 2019 the Council adopted Ordinance 2019-020 modifying the 2020 budget. Discussion followed with Mrs. Garcia answering Council questions. Resolution Approving the Six -Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) Public Works Director Jim Kelly and Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed the proposed six -year transportation improvement plan for the years 2021- 2026. In accordance with state law, every municipality must annually update their TIP for the following six years. Any road construction project that is to be considered for Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act or Transportation Improvement Board funding dust be listed on the TIP. To be eligible for allocation of 1/z- one cent gas tax monies, projects must also be listed. The TIP represents projects that the City would like to have completed, or funded, over the next six years (2021 to 2026). Prior to adopting this plan, it must be presented for a public hearing which will be held on December 7, 2020. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes and Mr. Kelly answering Council questions. Resolution Vacating a Portion of Public Right of Way Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed a proposed vacation of a portion of public right of way (alley). This is a City initiated process to vacate a portion of unopened right of way (alley) located between French Avenue and Lenore Avenue, and situated within Lot 9 of Gifford's First Addition to Arlington. This alley is across property owned by the Arlington School District (district), and abuts First Street. The vacation process requires Council to refer the matter to Planning Commission, by resolution, for consideration and recommendation, after which the matter is returned to City Council and heard at a public hearing for final action to occur. Upon review of a proposed short plat by the district, it was discovered that storm water facilities owned by the district, were constructed within the unopened right of way, creating a limited liability to the City. This alley runs parallel with both French and Lenore Avenues and would be accessible from First Street, if ever opened. The alley is approximately 151 feet in length by 16 feet in width, and terminates at this point, as the remainder of the alley was vacated when the "A" building was constructed. No utilities currently exist in the alley, but an easement could be created within the alley to accommodate any future utilities, although there is adequate access from other locations to serve the property, if needed. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. Page 2 of 6 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop November 23, 2020 Development Agreement with NorthPoint Development, LLC. Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed the proposed development agreement for the Cascade Commerce Center. The proposed development agreement is between the City and NorthPoint Development, LLC, and related to the planned industrial development known as the Cascade Commerce Center, a 426 acre industrial park, of which 87 acres are within Arlington's portion of the Cascade Industrial Center. NorthPoint Development, LLC wishes to enter into this agreement to ensure that their multi -year investment of the project will not be unreasonably delayed or burdened. Per AMC 20.39.040, a public hearing will be held at the December 7 City Council meeting. Development Agreements are utilized to ensure that certain terms and conditions are addressed and memorialized through the agreement. In this instance, NorthPoint is seeking assurances that items such as vesting of Traffic Impact Fees (TIF) and permitting processes will not change within the terms established by this agreement, but only if the City receives a complete Binding Site Plan for the subject property by March 30, 2021, after which time the applicant will be subject to the fee rates and development regulations in place at the time of project submittal. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. Ordinance Adopting Capital Facilities Plan for Arlington School District Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed the Ordinance for the Arlington School District Capital Facilities Plan. The Arlington School District is requesting that the City approve for inclusion in its Comprehensive Plan, the District's 2020-2025 Capital Facilities Plan. School districts are required by the Growth Management Act to provide a plan for future growth and future enrollment, and to establish impact fees consistent with the comprehensive plan, which are used to fund new facilities only. The Arlington School District must present their updated Capital Facilities Plan to the City for adoption on an annual basis, thus allowing the City to collect school impact fees on new development as it occurs. As part of this adoption cycle, the school district requested that the City adopt the plan as a part of the City's budget adoption process, as allowed by RCW 36.70A.130 (2) (a) (iv), to align with the processes used by both Snohomish County and City of Marysville. The Planning Commission voted at a regular meeting on November 17, 2020 to unanimously approve recommendation of the plan to City Council. An open record Public Hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2020, before the City Council, at the regular meeting. Denise Stiffarm, Arlington School District Attorney reviewed their 2020 Capital Facilities Plan and the results of those plans. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. Page 3 of 6 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop November 23.2020 Ordinance Adopting Capital Facilities Plan for Lakewood School District Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed the Lakewood School District Capital Facilities Plan. The Lakewood School District is requesting that the City approve for inclusion in its Comprehensive Plan, the Districts 2020-2025 Capital Facilities Plan. School districts are required by the Growth Management Act to provide a plan for future growth and future enrollment, and to establish impact fees consistent with the comprehensive plan, which are used to fund new facilities only. The Lakewood School District must present their updated Capital Facilities Plan to the City for adoption on an annual basis, thus allowing the City to collect school impact fees on new development as it occurs. As part of this adoption cycle, the school district requested that the City adopt the plan as a part of the City's budget adoption process, as allowed by RCW 36.70A.130 (2) (a) (iv), to align with the processes used by both Snohomish County and City of Marysville. The Planning Commission voted at a regular meeting on November 17, 2020 to unanimously approve recommendation of the plan to City Council. An open record Public Hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2020, before the City Council, at the regular meeting. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. Approval of Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes reviewed the proposed Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement. The presentation explained the "draft" Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (PA EIS). There are currently three alternatives that are being evaluated in the Planned Action, with only one to be selected to represent how development, within Arlington's portion of the Cascade Industrial Center will occur. The Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement is the final step in ensuring that the Cascade Industrial Center remains a vibrant industrial employment center, as it identifies and implements the vision, goals, and policies that were included in the AMMIC Subarea Plan, and addresses the necessary capital investments required as development occurs. Once adopted, this process streamlines the development review process, as elements related to the SEPA process have been pre -identified, and a modified SEPA checklist will be utilized when development review occurs. This also identifies specific project mitigation for identified transportation projects, on a pro -rats basis. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. October Community & Economic Development Report Community and Economic Development Director Marc Hayes gave an update of the current development projects and work being conducted by the CED department. Discussion followed with Mr. Hayes answering Council questions. Page 4 of 6 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop November 23, 2020 October Financial Report Finance Director Kristin Garcia reviewed the October 2020 financial reports. The financial reports included the narrative, general fund operating statement, revenue charts, other fund operating statements, and the public safety resourcing. Discussion followed with Mrs. Garcia answering Council questions. ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS City Administrator Paul Ellis provided an update on the proposed annexation to the Regional Fire Authority (RFA). The resolution will be sent to Snohomish County to be listed on the ballot. Mr. Ellis proposed to Council a decrease in the levy rate by 0.7 cents. Councilmembers Jesica Stickles and Marilyn Oertle, Finance Director Kristin Garcia, and City Administrator Paul Ellis worked on analyzing this information. They found that decreasing the rate by 0.7 cents would decrease the general fund of approximately $200,000 out of the anticipated $670,000, which is a large impact. This allows for an increase to about 51% of property tax owners to see a decrease or no change to their annual rates; 28% increase of $5 or less, and the remaining 21% on the higher valued houses will see an increase of $5 or more. The small increase in the levy rate gave the biggest increase on savings for the property tax payers that need it the most. MAYOR'S REPORT Cares Act money has been received and the program re -opened for small businesses to apply. The program will close December 1, 2020. Sno-Isle Libraries had begun opening up branches again since closing their doors due to COVID-19. It was brought to Mayor Tolbert's attention that the Arlington branch was not on the list to be reopened. The building is in need of maintenance fixes such as the HVAC systems, to make sure customers and the community stay safe. In the coming months, the City Administrator will be having conversations with Sno-Isle Libraries to seek alternatives and bring those to Council for consideration. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS None. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Councilmembers had nothing to report this evening. PUBLIC COMMENT None. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING City Council discussed and agreed to place the following items on the Consent Agenda for the December 7, 2020 Council meeting: 3. Resolution Vacating a Portion of Public Right of Way 7. Approval of Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement Page 5 of 6 Minutes of the Cif of Arlington City Council Workshop November 23. 2020 I'LI►XY[� ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. 7,9//�T1) Barbara Tolbert, Mayor Page 6 of 6