HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Signed Minutes 01-20-26_MeetingMinutes of the Arlington
City Council Meeting
Council Chambers
110 East 3rd Street
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Councilmembers Present: Heather Watland, Rob Toyer, Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam,
Michele Blythe, Nathan Senff, Tim Abrahamson, and Leisha Nobach.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Sarah Lopez, Shawn Friang, Jim Kelly, Kris
Wallace, Jonathan Ventura, Seth Kinney, Shelby Burke, City Attorney Oskar Rey, Chelsea
Brewer, and Wendy Van Der Meersche.
Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Kim Casteel, Stephanie
Abrahamson, Tyler Rumple, Savannah Lopez, LeAnne Koliha, Ronda Murphy, and Ruth
Caesar.
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 agenda as presented. Councilmember
Rob Toyer seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
PROCLAMATION
Councilmember Heather Watland read the America 250 proclamation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Tyler Rumple, Arlington, provided comments.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the
motion to approve the Consent Agenda that was unanimously carried:
1. Minutes of the January 5 and January 12, 2026 Council meetings
2. Accounts Payable: Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #114988 through
#115069, dated December 16, 2025 through December 30, 2025 in the amount of
$1,558,823.30; Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #115070 through
#115080, dated January 1, 2026, through January 5, 2026 in the amount of
$1,351,641.15; Approval of Payroll EFT Payments and Check #30479 through
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 20 2026
#30482 dated December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in the amount of
$1,750,319.99.
3. U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Services Agreement
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Renewal of Agreement with the Stilly Valley Center for Senior Services
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve the agreement renewal with the
Stilly Valley Center for senior services. The City has had a long-standing agreement with
the Stilly Valley Center to provide services to seniors. These services center on nutrition
and wellness. This is a renewal of that agreement and will renew each year thereafter.
Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam moved, and Councilmember Michele Blythe
seconded the motion to approve the renewal of the agreement with the Stilly Valley Center
for senior services and authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement. The motion passed
unanimously.
Professional Services Agreement with Bridge Coordination Services, LLC, for
Domestic Violence Coordinator Services
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council to approve a renewal of a Professional
Services Agreement with Bridge Coordination Services, LLC, for Domestic Violence
Coordinator Services provided through the assignment of a Domestic Violence Coordinator
to the Arlington Police Department on a part-time basis (Not to exceed 20 hours per week.
The Domestic Violence Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of violence related
cases between the victim, the Police Department, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office and
courts of jurisdiction.
The City and Bridge Coordination Services, LLC, entered into an interlocal agreement in
December 2024 that expired at the end of December 2025.
Councilmember Rob Toyer moved, and Councilmember Tim Abrahamson seconded the
motion to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Bridge Coordination Services,
LLC, and authorized the Mayor to sign it. The motion passed unanimously.
Professional Services Agreement Renewal with Strategies 360
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve the renewal agreement with
Strategies 360.
The contract extension describes the work to be done by Strategies 360 at the state and
federal level from January 1 through December 31, 2026. Strategies 360 has been working
on our behalf in Olympia and Washington, D.C. to address some of our immediate and long-
term transportation improvement goals, as well as assist us in economic development and
other areas. The continuation of the contract ensures that our best interests are
represented in the decision -making processes of the Washington State Legislature, the
Washington State Department of Transportation, the United States Congress, as well as
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 20.2026
other state and federal agencies. The City has budgeted $36,000 annually for the 2026
budget.
The City has been a direct client of Strategies 360 since Fall 2012. Prior to that, the City
was a client through participation in the SR9 Coalition.
Councilmember Heather Watland moved, and Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam
seconded the motion to approve the contract extension with Strategies 360 for Lobbying
Services for 2026 and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract extension. The motion
passed unanimously.
Ordinance Amending the Consumer Price Index Increases in the Arlington Municipal
Code Chapter 13.12 Pertaining to Utility Rates
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested Council approve an Ordinance Amending the
Consumer Price Index Increases in the Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 13.12 Pertaining
to Utility Rates.
The ordinance amends Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) 13.12 allowing the city to use the
August 2025 CPI-U rate to calculate the 2026 mandatory water, sewer, and stormwater
utility rate increases.
AMC 13.12.040 mandates that the water, sewer, and stormwater utility rates be increased
annually by the October reported percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
for the Seattle -Tacoma -Bellevue area. October 2025 data values are not available due to
the 2025 government lapse in appropriations. Staff have calculated the increases based on
the most current rates available which are for August 2025 with a CPI of 2.8%.
Councilmember Nathan Senff moved, and Councilmember Michele Blythe seconded the
motion to approve the ordinance implementing the scheduled CPI increase of 2.8% to the
water, sewer, and stormwater utility rates for 2026 based on August 2025 CPI-U data and
authorize the Mayor to sign the ordinance. The motion passed unanimously.
Grant Agreement with the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board for
Island Crossing Roundabout Project
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested Council approve a Grant Agreement with the
Washington State Transportation Improvement Board for Island Crossing Roundabout
Project.
The City of Arlington has been seeking funding for several years to improve the SR 530 and
Smokey Point Boulevard Intersection. The City of Arlington, the Stillaguamish Tribe of
Indians, and Snohomish County have worked on an intersection roundabout design over
the past four years. Installation of a Roundabout at this location will improve freight and
vehicle movement and safety throughout the corridor, as well as add safe pedestrian
walkways, and intersection improvements.
SR 530 is a critical vehicle and freight corridor connecting north Arlington, Oso, Darrington
and northeast Snohomish County to Interstate 5 (I-5). Staff applied for funding through the
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 20 2026
Transportation Improvement Board in 2025 and the City of Arlington has been awarded
$4,461,608 for this project. Staff are now requesting authorization for the mayor to sign
the grant agreement.
Councilmember Tim Abrahamson moved, and Councilmember Rob Toyer seconded the
motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the grant agreement with the Transportation
Improvement Board for the Island Crossing Roundabout. The motion passed unanimously.
Selection of Mayor Pro Tem
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council select a Mayor Pro Tem for 2026-2028.
The City Council is to select a Mayor Pro Tem every two years. The Council Rules of
Procedure state as follows:
Selecting Mayor Pro Tem and Alternate Mayor Pro Tem:
The Mayor Pro Tem will be selected by a majority vote of the Councilmembers at the
second meeting in January in even years or when there is a vacancy. In selecting the Mayor
Pro Tem, the Council will be guided by the following principles:
• To preserve continuity in the office, Mayor Pro Tem shall generally serve for a term of
two (2) years.
• The Mayor Pro Tem should have served as a Council member for at least two (2) years
before appointment to the office of Mayor Pro Tem.
• In general, the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem will be to the eligible Council members
who have served the longest in office.
The Alternate Mayor Pro Tem will be the Council member who most recently served as
Mayor Pro Tem.
Previous Mayors Pro Tem: Bea Randall (2000-2002), Oliver Smith (2002-2004) Sally Lien
(2004-2007), Marilyn Oertle (2008-2009), Steve Baker (2010-2011), Marilyn Oertle (2012-
2013), Chris Raezer (2014-2015), Debora Nelson (2016-2017), Marilyn Oertle (2018-
2019), Jesica Stickles (2020-August 2021), Jan Schuette (September 2021-2024), Michele
Blythe (2024-2026)
Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach
seconded the motion to select Michele Blythe as the City's Mayor Pro Tem for 2026-2028.
The motion passed unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmembers Michele Blythe and Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam spoke about their visits to
senior facilities and thanked Commander Mike Gilbert for his participation in speaking with
senior citizens.
ADMINISTRATOR & STAFF REPORTS
None.
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Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting January 20, 2026
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Vanney stated that Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam was elected to serve
in an at -large position on Snohomish County Housing and Community Development Policy
Advisory Board, and Councilmember Tim Abrahamson was elected to the Snohomish Health
Department Board of Health.
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Oskar Rey announced the need for a closed session to review Collective
Bargaining Agreement [RCW 42.30.140(4) to begin at 6:22 p.m. and last for 10 minutes until
6:32 p.m.
Council was dismissed at 6:22 p.m.
Council reconvened at 6:32 p.m. and continued with the final agenda item of New Business.
Approval of the 2026-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of
Arlington and AFSCME Local 2849
The City and Arlington City Employees, Local 2849 of the Washington State Council of County
and City Employees, Council 2, AFSCME negotiated a successor collective bargaining
agreement to be effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. Changes to the
Collective Bargaining Agreement include some housekeeping and language updates, in
addition to cost -of -living increases.
Negotiations started in July 2025 and concluded in December 2025. Meetings and
discussions were collaborative and fruitful. The teams met monthly working through issues
and progressing through contract requests from both sides. The latest Collective Bargaining
Agreement expired December 31, 2025. The proposed agreement will take effect January 1,
2026.
Mayor Pro Tem Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the
motion to approve the AFSCME 2026-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement and authorize
the Mayor to sign the agreement. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Council, the meet-ing was adjourned at 6:33
Don `if ey, Mayor
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