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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 10-28-19i -- Council Chambers 110 East Third Street October 28, 2019 Minutes of the Arlington City Council Workshop Councilmembers Present: Mike Hopson, Debora Nelson, Josh Roundy, Jan Schuette, Jesica Stickles and Sue Weiss. Council Members Absent: Marilyn Oertle, excused. Staff Present: Mayor Barb Tolbert, Paul Ellis, James Trefry, Kristin Banfield, Sarah Lopez, Bryan Terry, Kristin Garcia, Sheri Amundson, Jonathan Ventura, Dave Kraski, City Attorney Steve Peiffle, and Wendy Van Der Meersche. Also Known to be Present: Don Vanney, Kathy Vanney, Michele Blythe, Holly Sloan - Buchanan, and Sarah Arney. 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 Councilmember Debora Nelson moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Jan Schuette seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS None. PROCLAMATIONS None. WORKSHOP ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN Resolution for Authorization of Broadband Grant Application IT Director Bryan Terry presented a proposed resolution authorizing the application of a Public Works Board Broadband Feasibility Planning Grant. At the fall 2019 budget retreat, City Council authorized staff to solicit bids for a consultant to perform a feasibility study to deploy a municipal fiber -to -the -premises (FTTP) deployment. Estimated cost for that study is $40,000-$50,000. The Washington State Public Works Board recently opened a grant opportunity for the same study for local governments. $50,000 of available grant funding is available for each jurisdiction to fund a feasibility study for broadband deployment in underserved areas. Discussion followed with Mr. Terry answering council questions. Public Art Proposals and Budget Community Revitalization Project Manager Sarah Lopez introduced the public art proposals to be funded in the 2020 budget. Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop October 28, 2019 The City of Arlington Public Art Application for Funding was open from August 1 to October 7, 2019. Eighteen applications were received, totaling $108,414.00. The Public Art Committee and the PARC Arts and Recreation Commission recommends funding 10 projects in the 2020 budget, totaling $44,600. Projects include: art bench for Airport Boulevard, replacement art banners for Smokey Point and downtown, a skate park mural, metal banners for Arlington Valley Road, art for Kent Prairie roundabout, a utility box wrap for Smokey Point, a sculpture for Airport Boulevard, a sculpture for Gleneagle, an interactive art project "Suddenly Dragons", and sculptures for downtown parking lot. PARC also recommends accepting bench art proposals that enhance existing public benches in Arlington. No cost project proposed by Arlington Arts Council. In accordance with the public art policy, the proposals have been reviewed and recommended by the Public Art Committee on October 17, 2019, and Parks, Arts, and Recreation Committee on October 22, 2019. Discussion followed with Ms. Lopez answering council questions. 2019 - 2020 Budget Amendments and Modifications Finance Director Kristin Garcia presented the budget amendments and modifications for 2019-2020. At the October 5, 2019 budget retreat, staff presented the proposed 2019 budget amendments and 2020 budget modifications. A few updates have been made to the information that was presented at the retreat. Staff will continue to monitor the budget to see if any additional amendments or modifications need to be reflected before year end. At the November 25 council workshop, staff will present to council the final amendments and modifications. A public hearing will be held on December 2, and council will be asked to take action on adopting the budget ordinances on December 16. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering council questions. Resolution to Increase 2020 General Property Tax Levy Finance Director Kristin Garcia presented a proposed resolution to increase the 2020 general property tax levy. A retreat was held on October 5, 2019 to review and discuss the city's proposed increase in the 2020 regular property tax levy. A resolution must be approved by council to set the regular property tax levy for 2020. The resolution must state the amount of the increase in terms of dollar and percentage. The proposed resolution reflects a 1% increase from the 2019 certified levy which is an increase of $42,422.06 and does not include additional revenue resulting from new construction. The 2020 budget assumes a 1% increase in the tax levy plus an amount for new construction. The 2020 budget assumed a total increase of $64,524 over the 2019 budget ($42,422 plus $22,102 for new construction). Levy resolutions must be submitted to Snohomish County on or before November 30, 2019. A public hearing will be held on November 4, 2019 to allow for public comment. The resolution will be brought to council for final action on November 18, 2019. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop October 28, 2019 council questions. The Mayor, staff, and council discussed the proposed general property tax increase for 2020, as presented, and opted for a 0% increase in the general property tax levies, and to bank unused levy capacity for future use. Resolution to Increase 2020 EMS Tax Levy Finance Director Kristin Garcia presented a proposed resolution to increase the 2020 EMS tax levy. A budget retreat was held on October 5, 2018 to review and discuss the city's proposed increase in the 2020 EMS tax levy. A resolution must be approved by council to set the EMS tax levy for 2020. The resolution must state the amount of the increase in terms of dollar and percentage. The attached resolution reflects a 1% increase from the 2019 certified levy which is an increase of $10,043.22 and does not include additional revenue resulting from new construction. The 2020 budget assumes a total increase of $10,420. Levy resolutions must be submitted to Snohomish County on or before November 30, 2019. A public hearing will be held on November 4, 2019 to allow for public comment. The resolution will be brought to council for final action on November 18, 2019. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering council questions. The Mayor, staff, and council discussed the proposed EMS property tax increase for 2020, as presented, and opted for a 0% increase in the EMS property tax levies, and to bank unused levy capacity for future use. Resolution to Update Social Services Policy Finance Director Kristin Garcia presented a proposed resolution to replace Resolution 2017-003, and adopting the revised Social Services Fund Policy. On June 19, 2017, the council approved Resolution No. 2017-013 adopting a Social Services Fund policy. The purpose of the policy was to allow use of funds to provide immediate basic needs to individuals who are opioid addicted and seeking treatment. Since the social services fund policy was adopted, staff have recognized that there is a broader need in the community than just providing shelter, food, clothing and transportation to addicted individuals seeking treatment. There is a need in the community to also provide basic needs to those facing mental health issues and homelessness. Staff is requesting an update to the social services policy to expand the allowable use of these funds. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering council questions. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Appointment Finance Director Kristin Garcia presented an appointment to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Jennifer Egger is no longer eligible to serve on the lodging tax advisory committee. Stilly Valley Chamber Board Member Arnie Verellen-Grubbs has agreed to fill the vacancy left by Ms. Egger. Her appointment would expire April 30, 2021. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering council questions. September Financial Report Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop October 28.2019 Finance Director Kristin Garcia reviewed the September 2019 financial report. Discussion followed with Ms. Garcia answering council questions. Miscellaneous Council Items None. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Tolbert provided a brief update on SHB 1406, which encourages investments in affordable and supportive housing. ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS After a comment was made during the workshop regarding inflation being at 1%, Administrative Services Director James Trefry let council know he would be bringing forward a pay plan for 2020 within the next couple of weeks. Inflation was trending closer to 2.5% most of the year, and was 3.2% in August, and the newest October data would be available on November 13, 2019. PUBLIC COMMENT Sarah Arney thanked councilmembers for the allocated money to support the arts, and for placing value on art in the community. She also thanked Sarah Lopez for her work on the public art project. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Councilmembers Debora Nelson, Mike Hopson, Jan Schuette, and Jesica Stickles provided brief updates, while Councilmembers Josh Roundy and Sue Weiss had nothing to report this evening. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Council discussed and agreed to place the following items on the consent agenda for the November 4, 2019 council meeting: • Resolution for Authorization of Broadband Grant Application • Resolution to Update Social Services Policy ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Barbara Tolbert, Mayor Page 4 of 4